New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch Monday, January 28, 1980
Reflections for Police Officer Cecil Frank Sledge
Meet with a parole commissioner to express our opposition for parole . Please send your signed petitions on nycpba.org go to keep cop killer in jail, go to the name Sledge, page 3, fill in and send. Thank you. Every petition counts.
Linda Sledge, widow of NYC Police Office
NYPD
February 14, 2026
On this 46th Anniversary you are missed and never forgotten. We will continue our fight for justice for you.
Love forever, Linda
Linda Sledge, widow of Cecil Frank Sledg
NYPD
January 28, 2026
God Bless you. Rest In Peace.
Frank
NYPD Detective-Retired
MTS Pct/NYDAOS
January 28, 2026
P.O. Cecil Sledge, thank you for your heroics. You will never be forgotten by the NYPD and the City of New York.
(Ret.) Sgt Thomas McCarthy
NYPD
January 28, 2026
Hello Officer Sledge,
This is the 46th anniversary of your tragic death. I know your wife is surely thinking of you on this day. I just saw a reflection she left asking us all to send a no parole letter to the parole board to keep your murderer in jail. I'm happy to say I had already done that recently when I got the notification from ODMP. I wish I could let your wife know I'd done what she requested. I'll be praying or her and for the rest of your family, friends, loved ones and colleagues.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”. – Matthew 5:9
Daniel Ryan
Private Investigator (Retired)
January 28, 2026
Once again a parole hearing in March 2026. Please go in January and February and go to nycpba.org and go to keep cop killers in jail. Type in name Sledge, fill in, and press send. It is crucial to get as many petitions as possible. Forty-four cop- killers have been released.
Thank you all who takes the time to support us and to seek justice for my husband.
We will never forget.
Linda Sledge (widow of Officer Cecil Fra
NYPD
January 15, 2026
I’m from Officer Sledge’s hometown of Roanoke,Alabama. I knew officer Sledge and his father and brother, Calvin. My father and Officer Sledge’s father were friends.
Tonight I heard of the murder of a NY police officer I thought of Cecil. My hope is they keep his killer in prison until the day he draws his last breath and sentenced to an eternity in hell.
Frank Royston
Knew Cecil when he was growing up in Roanoke, Alabama
July 29, 2025
Parole has been denied for one year. Next hearing is March 2026. We will continue our fight next year and will never forget.
Thank you to all who signed petitions in helping us in seeking justice.
Linda Sledge ( widow of Officer Sledge)
NYPD
April 17, 2025
Cecil's killer is once again up for Parole. Cecil has not been able to seek a Parole hearing from his grave. His killer should rot in his jail cell for ever......NO PAROLE for Salvatore Desarno!!!!
DENNIS CONNER
NYPD ,Retired
March 17, 2025
Good morning, I am cleaning out my father's papers (Retired NYPD/ and Army Officer). I found an Army Newspaper with a long article regarding the shooting, as he was a former National Guard member. I would like to send it to you instead of throwing it away. Please reach out to me by e-mail ( ubercom@optonline.net ), I can mail it over. Thanks much, James
CDR James Christman
USN
March 1, 2025
PO Cecil Frank Sledge was my uncle. When he was murdered on January 28th not only did the police department lose a member, but we lost an uncle, father, husband and brother in law. He will forever be in our hearts.
My earliest memories of him was when he use to drive us in his yellow punch buggy car when we use to visit him at home. Another memory was when he use to come visit my family in Jersey. He use to sit in my parents yellow chair and use to tell us stories. To this day they still have it!
We miss you each and every day Uncle Frank.
Love, your niece Anita
Anita Holden
Uncle
February 27, 2025
Once again, I am honored to have sent a "No parole" letter, so your cowardly killer remains locked up
and denied the pleasure of living in a world that you made safe for all of us.
Det. Billy Russo (Ret)
Nassau County Police Department, New York.
February 6, 2025
We are continuing our fight for justice for you. Family, friends and strangers are supporting our fight to deny parole for this killer. He will appear before the parole board in March, 2025. Anyone willing to support us can go to nycpba.org scroll down to keep cop killers in jail, click, then go to the name Sledge, fill in and press send. We need all the help we can get. Thank you for supporting us. Sledge Family
Linda Sledge (widow of Officer Sledge)
NYPD
February 4, 2025
On January 28, 2025 you are being remembered 45 years of your passing. Family, friends, 69 pct., members of the NYPD were gathered to remember. We will never forget. You live on in our hearts.
Linda Sledge (widow of Officer Sledge)
NYPD
January 29, 2025
After reading most of these messages and learning what a special person Cecil was, my heart was shattered. I truly hope his killer remains in prison until his last breath. I love how his wife kept his memory alive after all these years. As Cecil was a hero, so is his wife.
Bobby Milchak
Former NYPD and SJPD P.O.
January 28, 2025
Officer Sledge,
On today, the 45th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)
January 28, 2025
Today January 28, 2025 is the 45th Anniversary of your passing. You were remembered today with your family, friends and the 69th Pct. in Canarsie and other members of the NYPD.
You will be remembered forever. Forever in our hearts.
Linda Sledge widow of Officer Sledge
NYPD
January 28, 2025
i’m so sorry, my friend. I was 18 years old when I was watching with my mother just 20 feet away from you
Andrew Graceffo
eye witness
January 27, 2025
In 1967, I met Sergeant Sledge in the Army's 72nd Combat Engineer Company--attached to the 197th Infantry Brigade in Ft. Benning, GA. It was my 1st assignment post OCS as 2nd platoon leader. I believe he was a 1st platoon sergeant. As well as with other members, I was lucky have occasion to coordinate with him for training "the Infantry" in demolitions and also preparing the 72nd Company for many anticipated & actual civil disturbances--especially expected, but thankfully not needed, for Atlanta--Martin Luther King's funeral service. He left a well-liked impression. I knew Sgt. Sledge was from the South. From Brooklyn, I never knew where he was reassigned after I transferred to VN. Unexpected, it was many years after my return to Brooklyn that I read about his untimely, tragic death & how coincidently close we resided. Rest In Peace....Always in Memory.
Anthony F. Benfatti
Fellow Army Vet--Member of the 72nd Combat Engineer Company in 1967
January 24, 2025
We will continue our fight for justice in 2025. You will never be forgotten. Always in our hearts.
Linda Sledge widow
NYPD
January 2, 2025
On October 10, 2024 a street naming ceremony took place at the 69pct in Brooklyn. Our family hope and dream became a reality for a man who made the ultimate sacrifice in Canarsie. Never to be forgotten.
Linda Sledge widow
NYPD
October 15, 2024
still fuming over how sal keeps beggin' for parole he ain't worth the money he shoulda ate bullets when he killed frank because the blue line always will win even when people think it's not possible the blue line is all over the world
Brice coy
proud blue line supporter
May 28, 2024
I worked with Cecil in citywide anticrime. He was a great cop and a good friend. May he rest in peace and may the animal who did this rot in hell
Detective John L Diana
NYPD
May 20, 2024
I never got to meet him as he was murdered 28 years before I was born but I have my friends all over getting ready to send letters to the nycpba advising against giving sal parole
bravo 5 pal veteran Brice coy
proud blue line supporter
May 17, 2024
sorry i've never met you as i was born 20 years later after your passing but i've made it my goal to have my city's pd which is Erie to send no parole letters to the nycpba and untill sal's stayin' in jail where he belongs
Brice coy
proud blue line supporter
May 16, 2024