On the cold winter day of January 28, 1980, a dedicated 35-year-old male police officer, Cecil Frank Sledge, tragically lost his life in the line of duty in Brooklyn, New York. A 12-year veteran of the New York City Police Department assigned to the 69th Precinct, Officer Sledge was conducting a routine traffic stop at the intersection of Flatlands Avenue and 78th Street when the encounter turned fatal.
He recognized the driver as a suspect wanted in connection with a robbery that had occurred just the day before.
As Officer Sledge approached the vehicle, the man behind the wheel, identified as Salvatore 'Crazy Sal' DeSarno, a parolee at the time, opened fire with a. 38 caliber handgun, striking the officer. In a horrific turn of events, as Officer Sledge fell to the ground, his gun belt became entangled with the suspect's car. DeSarno then sped away, dragging the officer for approximately a quarter of a mile before he was finally dislodged.
Following the brutal slaying, DeSarno fled the scene and, in a desperate attempt to evade capture, took an elderly woman hostage in her home. However, law enforcement swiftly moved in and apprehended him. In the subsequent legal proceedings, DeSarno's defense team argued that he had acted in self-defense, alleging a history of conflict with the officer. The prosecution, however, presented a compelling case that DeSarno had made a deliberate and vicious choice to murder Officer Sledge.
The jury ultimately found Salvatore DeSarno guilty of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Over the years, DeSarno has been denied parole on multiple occasions, including in 2014, 2016, and 2022, ensuring he remains incarcerated for the senseless killing of a dedicated public servant. Officer Sledge, a U.S. Army veteran, was survived by his wife and two children.
