The PBA obtained a temporary restraining order against the State’s planned parole of cop-killer Herman Bell, but a Judge tossed the case and Bell was released. The PBA launched a new campaign to keep Bell’s cohort, Anthony Bottom, incarcerated. He is up for parole in June, and the DEA sent an anti-parole letter, as always.
Division of Parole
State of New York
97 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
May 1, 2018
RE: Anthony Bottom, DIN #77-A-4283
Dear Members of the Parole Board:
On May 21, 1971, two New York City Police Department Officers, Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini, were answering a radio call at the Colonial Park Houses in the confines of the 32nd Precinct of Manhattan, when they were ambushed and murdered by two self-proclaimed “revolutionaries” and members of the “Black Liberation Army,” Herman Bell and Anthony Bottom. A barrage of bullets blew Officer Jones’ head apart and Officer Piagentini, shot 13 times, died on his way to the hospital.
Officer Waverly Jones was 32-years-old, and had been on the police force for five years. He was survived by a wife and three children. Officer Joseph Piagentini was 27 and had also served in the Police Department for five years. He was survived by a wife and two daughters.
Bottom was arrested on August 27, 1971 when he and BLA cohorts tried to assassinate a San Francisco Police Sergeant. Along with Bottom, Herman Bell eventually stood trial in New York for the murders of Jones and Piagentini and was sentenced to 25 years to life, the maximum penalty allowed by New York State law at that time. Today, Bottom serves his sentence at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in New York State.
Causing much emotional turmoil and anguish for the friends, families, and colleagues of the two slain Police Officers, every two years killers Bell and Bottom seek parole and Bell was finally, recently successful in obtaining release.
The Detectives’ Endowment Association, Inc., the union of active and retired New York City Police Department Detectives, urges the Parole Division of the State of New York to deny the upcoming parole petition of Anthony Bottom.
As far as this union’s 18,000 members are concerned, this criminal lost his right to freedom the day he decided to gun down two hardworking New York City Police Officers for no reason other than the twisted cravings of his own overblown ego.
Thank you for considering our position.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Palladino
President
Here’s the backstory: On March 14, 2018, Herman Bell, the killer of Officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones in 1971, was granted parole. The DEA President released the following statement:
On behalf of the member organizations of the New York State Association of PBAs, I cannot believe the Parole Board released a remorseless killer like Herman Bell. The decision defies logic. It victimizes, yet again, the families of the fallen Officers and breaches the faith and trust Police Officers, and their families, place in the Parole Board to make sound decisions.
- Michael J. Palladino, President, Detectives’ Endowment Association, Inc. &
- The New York State Association of PBAs
Here’s the backstory: Every two years, Herman Bell — the killer of NYPD Police Officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones — seeks parole. We believe he belongs in prison. The DEA sent the following letter to the New York State Parole Board on January 4, 2018. Please join our efforts to keep Herman Bell in prison for life. His parole hearing is scheduled for the week of February 20, 2018.
Division of Parole
State of New York
97 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
RE: Herman Bell, DIN #79C0262
Dear Members of the Parole Board:
On May 21, 1971, two New York City Police Department Officers, Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini, were answering a radio call at the Colonial Park Houses in the confines of the 32nd Precinct of Manhattan, when they were ambushed and murdered by two self-proclaimed “revolutionaries” and members of the “Black Liberation Army,” Herman Bell and Anthony Bottom. A barrage of bullets blew Officer Jones’ head apart, and Officer Piagentini, shot 13 times, died on his way to the hospital.
Officer Waverly Jones was 32 years old. He had been on the force for five years. He was survived by a wife and three children. Officer Joseph Piagentini was 27 and had served on the force for five years. He was survived by a wife and two daughters.
Bottom was arrested on August 27, 1971, when he and BLA cohorts tried to assassinate a San Francisco Police Sergeant. Along with Bottom, Herman Bell eventually stood trial in New York for the murders of Jones and Piagentini and was sentenced to 25-years-to-life, the maximum penalty allowed by New York State law at that time.
Causing much emotional turmoil and anguish for the friends, families, and colleagues of the two slain Police Officers, every two years killers Bell and Bottom seek parole. We hope and pray that the Parole Board will deny these petitions. As far as we know, Herman Bell remains unrepentant and continues to live in grotesque denial, taking no responsibility for his actions, proclaiming he is a “political prisoner.” He is and always was, plain and simply, a cold-blooded murderer.
The Detectives’ Endowment Association, Inc., the union of active and retired New York City Police Department Detectives, urges the Parole Division of the State of New York to deny the parole petition of Herman Bell. As far as this union’s 18,000 members are concerned, this criminal lost his right to freedom the day he decided to gun down two hardworking New York City Police Officers for no reason other than the twisted cravings of his own overblown ego. Thank you for considering our position.
Fraternally,
Michael J. Palladino
President
