Herman Bell Parole Letter
Jul 01, 2019 by Robert K. Tanenbaum
To: Members of the New York State Parole Board:
The purpose of this letter is to urge the Board to deny parole for Herman Bell ("Bell"). The reasons for my opinion are based upon the following:
- The heinous nature of the brutal crimes Bell committed;
- Bell's specific intent to murder police officers across America;
- Bell's lack of remorse toward the Joseph Piagentini family; and
- Bell's criminal conviction record that reflects a life of documented vicious and merciless criminal conduct evincing a deviant, delusional and twisted mind.
Bobby Barnes Letter to Parole Board
Oct 18, 2018 by Robert K. Tanenbaum
Dear Parole Board Chairwoman:
For the past forty-nine years I have been involved with the criminal justice system: as a prosecutor in the New York County District Attorney’s Office where I served as Bureau Chief of the Criminal Courts, ran the Homicide Bureau, and was in charge of the District Attorney’s Office legal staff training program. Thereafter, I served as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Congressional Committee investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I taught Advanced Criminal Procedure for several years at my alma mater, the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and have had published twenty-nine novels and three non-fiction books, all dealing with criminal justice matters.
For the past forty-nine years I have been involved with the criminal justice system: as a prosecutor in the New York County District Attorney’s Office where I served as Bureau Chief of the Criminal Courts, ran the Homicide Bureau, and was in charge of the District Attorney’s Office legal staff training program. Thereafter, I served as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Congressional Committee investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I taught Advanced Criminal Procedure for several years at my alma mater, the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and have had published twenty-nine novels and three non-fiction books, all dealing with criminal justice matters.
Herman Bell (Inmate #DIN79CO262) Rescind the Grant of Parole
Mar 26, 2018 by Robert K. Tanenbaum
On April 10, 1975, after jury trial, Bell was convicted of the murders of
Jones and Piagentini. On May 12, 1975, New York State Supreme Court Judge
Edward Greenfield, who presided during the trial, sentenced Bell to a term of
life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of twenty-five years, the
maximum sentence at the time pursuant to State law. Recently, the State Board of
Parole issued on April 17, 2018, parole release date for Bell. Given the urgency of the
matter, a request for a Rescission Hearing before the Parole Board is necessary to
remedy this patent unlawful order. Here’s why.
Jones and Piagentini. On May 12, 1975, New York State Supreme Court Judge
Edward Greenfield, who presided during the trial, sentenced Bell to a term of
life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of twenty-five years, the
maximum sentence at the time pursuant to State law. Recently, the State Board of
Parole issued on April 17, 2018, parole release date for Bell. Given the urgency of the
matter, a request for a Rescission Hearing before the Parole Board is necessary to
remedy this patent unlawful order. Here’s why.
Op-Ed Article Regarding Herman Bell
Mar 26, 2018 by Robert K. Tanenbaum
On Friday evening, May 21, 1971, when Herman Bell (Bell) ambushed
and summarily executed NYPD Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini
as they were walking toward their squad car parked at 159-20 Harlem River
Drive (Colonial Park Housing) in the northeastern end of Manhattan, I was an
Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Homicide Bureau in the New York
County District Attorney’s Office during the tenure of legendary District
Attorney Frank S. Hogan. Then Homicide Bureau Chief, Assistant D.A. John F.
Keenan, now Federal District Court Judge in the Southern District of New York,
assigned to me the responsibility to investigate and prosecute the case entitled
People of the State of New York v. Herman Bell, et al.
and summarily executed NYPD Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini
as they were walking toward their squad car parked at 159-20 Harlem River
Drive (Colonial Park Housing) in the northeastern end of Manhattan, I was an
Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Homicide Bureau in the New York
County District Attorney’s Office during the tenure of legendary District
Attorney Frank S. Hogan. Then Homicide Bureau Chief, Assistant D.A. John F.
Keenan, now Federal District Court Judge in the Southern District of New York,
assigned to me the responsibility to investigate and prosecute the case entitled
People of the State of New York v. Herman Bell, et al.