My School is Named After Two Slain NYPD Officers — Their Killer Has Been Released from Prison
In 2000, I was in sixth grade at an intermediate school in the Bronx named after two police
officers who lost their lives in the line of duty: Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini.
It never crossed my mind that less than twenty years later, Herman Bell, the killer of these officers, would be set free. The New York State Board of Parole, responsible for Bell’s release, also disgracefully released Lee Ernest Walker, who coldly murdered NYPD officer Juan Andino, shooting him in the head and face over a pair of sunglasses.
Allowing murderers like Walker back into society serves no public benefit. It only re-traumatizes the families of the victims, forcing them to relive the pain of their loss.
The only just and fitting punishment for killing a police officer is a life sentence in prison.
Certain crimes, such as the murder of a police officer, should never be eligible for parole and should not be subject to the biases of an ideologically driven parole board.
The parole board is so disconnected from the people of New York, lacking any moral clarity, that it has brazenly released 43 cop killers since 2017—and this trend shows no sign of stopping unless halted by the governor, whose silence has been deafening.
When assessing an inmate’s future, the Board of Parole largely disregards the crime’s nature and the needs of the victims’ families.
No crime appears too horrific for a parole board that feels neither guilt nor shame about releasing heartless cop killers.
This leniency towards cop killers deeply demoralizes the NYPD, especially as the department grapples with ongoing recruitment and retention challenges. It sends a chilling message that New York State fundamentally devalues the lives of those who risk their safety for the well-being of others. Why would any officer put their life on the line for a state that would potentially release their murderer?
Currently, eleven out of the sixteen parole board members have terms that have expired. Although Gov. Hochul has the authority to remove those members who are ideologically driven to release cop killers, she remains passive, akin to a deer caught in headlights.
The parole board members should not be allowed the privilege of secret voting, evading accountability for their questionable decisions. The people of New York demand that the Board of Parole operates with the same transparency and accountability as the elected officials who appoint them.
It is imperative that the governor reforms the Board of Parole to ensure it reflects the common sense views of most New Yorkers. Appointments should prioritize those who advocate for crime victims.
The voting records of board members must be made public, and the release of violent cop killers should be strictly forbidden. Only then can the Board of Parole truly honor New York and the memory of its fallen heroes.
Ritchie Torres is a Democratic congressman representing The Bronx.
