Dear Madam Chairman,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to urge you and the Board
of Parole to deny parole for Salvatore V. DeSarno (inmate #81A1798), the murderer of New
York City Police Officer Cecil Frank Sledge.
On Monday, 28 January 1980, Officer Sledge recognized a driver as being wanted in connection
to a robbery that had occurred the previous day and performed a traffic stop. As he approached
the vehicle, Officer Sledge was shot without warning. As he fell, Officer Sledge’s gun belt
caught on the car, resulting in him being dragged a quarter of a mile. After fleeing, this killer,
who was on parole for another crime, took an elderly woman hostage in her own home before he
was apprehended.
Officer Sledge was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the New York City Police
Department for 12 years. He left behind his wife and two children. Every time his killer is up for
parole, Officer Sledge’s wife must again mourn the loss of her husband while reliving his
horrific murder. Law enforcement officers work tirelessly every day to protect our communities
and someone who gruesomely murders an officer should not be subject to parole. In this case,
justice demands parole be denied.
On behalf of the more than 355,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I urge you to deny
this cop-killer parole. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or
Executive Director Jim Pasco in my Washington office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President