Police have launched a petition and letter campaign urging the state parole board to ensure that the murderer of a local police officer serve his sentence rather than be set free at a hearing in February, officials said Wednesday.
Paul Fontani was sentenced to 50 to 100 years in prison for the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Downers Grove Police Officer Richard Barth on March 18, 1974.
Unaware that the then-16-year-old Fontani and another juvenile had just committed a burglary, Barth approached the two boys in Northwest Park to question them about a separate incident.
Fontani, who had stolen a .25-caliber automatic pistol in the burglary, shot Barth as he tried to question them.
Fontani’s parole hearing is set for Feb. 3 at the Dixon Correctional Center.
“I don’t think justice would be served by Mr. Fontani’s return back into the community at this time,” said Police Chief George Graves.
Downers Grove police are urging area residents to sign petitions protesting Fontani’s possible parole, and officials said they will forward any letters concerning Fontani’s possible release to the state parole board.
