Victims Beg Newsom to Deny Murderer’s Parole

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A Los Angeles murderer serving 40 years-to-life in prison has been granted parole eleven years earlier than originally sentenced.  Michael Ruiz of Fox News reports that Derek Pettis, who at age 24, murdered a police Chaplain and attempted to murder a police officer was granted parole under California’s 2018 youthful offender parole law which considers murderers up to 26 years-old to be juveniles.  The officer, who was shot and permanently disabled told the parole board, “This is difficult to understand, since one can join the military and fight and die for their country at 17, enter into a business contract at 18, vote at 21, drink alcohol at 21, and yes, be a police officer at 21. So, in utilizing the “Youth Offender” hearing, I believe it is imperative to be careful how it is applied, especially with regard to a 24-year-old street gang member.”

The murder occurred early on the morning of June 18, 1994, when Los Angeles Deputy Terrence Wenger picked up Pettis, a known gang member, for his involvement in a bar fight. Police Chaplain Bruce Bryan was accompanying the deputy as a ride-along that morning.  Rather than take Pettis downtown for booking, the Deputy decided to take him to a motel to sober up.  When they arrived at the motel Deputy Wenger uncuffed Pettis, let him out of the patrol car and turned to get back in.  Pettis sucker-punched the deputy knocking him to the ground, then took his gun and shot the deputy point blank in the face blowing off one eye.  Pettis then turned to the Chaplain who had exited the car and said “I’m not a cop,” pointing to the word Chaplain on his jacket.  Pettis shot him in the chest then finished him off with a bullet in the back of his head. Nearby officers quickly apprehended Pettis. Deputy Wenger survived, Chaplain Bryan, who had just gotten engaged, did not.

The state applied the youthful offender parole law retroactively, which allowed Pettis to apply before Governor Gavin Newsom’s Parole Board earlier this year. Pro-criminal Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon does not allow his Deputies or detectives to attend parole hearings and Bryan’s family was not notified of the hearing, which would have afforded them the chance to attend and oppose Pettis’ release.

The family and Deputy Wenger are now begging Governor Newsom to deny parole. Californians who want to join them to encourage Governor Newsom to keep Pettis in prison can submit letters here.

Or write the Governor at:

Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841