Cop Killer Denied Parole

Someone woke up and smelled the coffee:

• Federal officials denied the parole request Friday for Henry Michael Gargano, whose pending release for the 1967 murders of two Northlake police officers generated outrage from law enforcement and the public.

  "Mr. Gargano's prison record, on top of his lack of remorse for the crimes that led to his imprisonment, showed that his release would be incompatible with public safety." U.S. Parole Commission Chairman Isaac Fulwood Jr. said in a prepared statement.

  Gargano, 79, pleaded guilty in 1968 to the shooting deaths of Northlake Officers John Nagle and Anthony Perri while robbing the Northlake Bank on Oct. 27, 1967, with two other men.

  A judge sentenced Gargano to 199 years in prison. At a January 2010 parole hearing his case manager indicated Gargano was a likely candidate for release, and the commission tentatively set his parole for Sept. 3.

Convicted in 1968 and sentenced to 199 years. So how is it that 43 years later he almost walked out? Even at "day-for-day" credit (which we're pretty sure the feds don't do), that's still 56.5 years earlier than he should have been released.

At 79, we're hoping he dies of a rapidly painful illness in short order. But the only way he leaves prison ought to be feet first and in a pine box.