Independence police are drumming up support for an effort to reject parole for a man who killed a policeman there 45 years ago. A parole hearing is scheduled by the state for Lawrence Merola, how is now 70 years old. Merola pleaded guilty and got life in prison.
A department spokesman tells the Kansas City Star the department has learned Merola has more than 240 conduct violations on his prison record including three this year. He says Merola has never shown any remorse for the shooting.