Family members of Cincinnati Police Officer Melvin Henze, killed more than 20 years ago by Percy Wilson, said Wednesday that news of the killer's possible early parole is forcing them to relive their pain.

        At the offices of Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen on Wednesday, they asked the public to help them keep Mr. Wilson behind bars.

        “Wilson made the choice to kill my brother. We need to hold him accountable for his crime,” said Pat Henze, Officer Henze's sister.

        Officer Henze, 31, was killed May 5, 1979, while attempting to arrest Mr. Wilson along Naeher Alley in the West End.

        Mr. Wilson had threatened a woman at a pool hall with a gun after a dispute over $8. A bystander saw the gun and called police.

        Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher said Wednesday that Officer Henze was ambushed by Mr. Wilson, who was hiding in a doorway. The officer was shot six times and was later found inside his patrol car by other officers.

        Mr. Wilson admitted killing the officer and was sentenced to 22 years to life. He was denied parole in 1996 and was scheduled to have his next hearing in 2007.

        A change in guidelines, however, by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority moved his hearing to next month.

        The prosecutor and the victim's family are asking the public to voice their objections via e-mail. The e-mail messages can be sent from www.hcpros.org/parole.

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