15 years after his murder,
PEF members still pause to salute parole officer Brian
Rooney
PEF member Brian Rooney may have died in the line of
duty, but he earned the undying respect of his co-workers
at the state Division of Parole.
Participating in the 15th annual memorial service on
October 10 at Rooney’s graveside in Westbury are his
comrads Robert Alexander, Rosa Arguellas, Barbara Ruddy
and Gus Person.
Rooney was murdered by Perry Bellamy in 1985, just a week
before Rooney was scheduled to receive the Division of
Parole’s Award for Valor.
Rooney was 35, and left a wife and 18-month-old child.
Bellamy was directed to kill Rooney by Lorenzo (Fat Cat)
Nichols who was already serving time in prison and wanted
to take revenge on Rooney for testifying against him.
Bellamy’s recent bid for parole was turned down
after hundreds of outraged parole officers wrote to the
state Parole Board to oppose it.