[Ppnews] Police story on Veronza Bowers release denial

[PPnews at freedomarchives.org]

F.O.P. Helps to Keep Cop-Killer Behind Bars
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=43355


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To: National and State desks

Contact: Tim Richardson of the Fraternal Order of Police, 202-547-8189

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Chuck Canterbury, national president 
of the Fraternal Order of Police, welcomed news that the scheduled release 
of convicted cop-killer Veronza L. Bowers, Jr. today was blocked at the 
last minute by order of the U.S. Parole Commission -- thanks in part to the 
efforts of the Grand Lodge.

"The Grand Lodge learned that the widow of U.S. Park Ranger Kenneth C. 
Patrick, the officer murdered by Bower, was never notified of the parole 
hearing which granted him release," Canterbury explained. "This killer was 
scheduled to be released on Feb. 21, but because this date falls on a 
Federal holiday, Federal rules require him to be released on the previous 
Friday, so we had to act very quickly to intervene with the U.S. Parole 
Commission."

The Washington, D.C. staff and U.S. Park Ranger Greg Johnston, president of 
Virginia Lodge No. 60, contacted Patrick's widow, who sent a letter to the 
Commission.

"As a victim, she has the right to tell the Commission what she knows about 
her husband's murderer," he explained, "and his parole was blocked so that 
the Commission will have a chance to hear from her and other members of 
Patrick's family."

Bowers was poaching deer with two other men in August 1973 when he was 
confronted by U.S. Park Ranger Ken Patrick. Bowers shot Patrick three times 
with his 9 mm handgun, killing him. His body was not discovered until the 
next morning. Bowers, a member of the Black Panthers who was developing his 
own cell of "warriors against fascist America," characterizes himself as a 
"political prisoner." Far from being a model prisoner, he was shot and 
recaptured during an escape attempt, and has been implicated in the murder 
of two fellow inmates.

"Ken Patrick left behind a wife and three children," Canterbury said. 
"Their lives were irrevocably changed on the night of his murder. Bowers 
was sentenced to life in prison -- and life in prison is what he should serve."

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor 
organization in the United States, with more than 318,000 members.

<http://www.usnewswire.com/>http://www.usnewswire.com/

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/© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/


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