PBA ‘air’ war vs. killer’s release

THE CITY’S largest police union is taking its fight to keep convicted cop killer Herman Bell behind bars to the airwaves.

The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association kicked off a radio campaign on Friday asking listeners to sign a petition objecting to Bell’s release, which was slated for later this month.

Bell, 70, along with Anthony Bottom and Albert Washington, executed Police Officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones after luring them to the Colonial Park Houses — now the Rangel Houses — on W. 159th St. with a bogus 911 call on May 21, 1971.

The three men were members of the Black Liberation Army at the time. Bell was also convicted of killing a police officer in California.

The 60-second spot will run 300 times on 13 stations in the next week.

During upcoming Mets and Yankees games, listeners will be asked to go to www.pba.org and click the “Keep Cop Killers in Jail” icon, which will send a pre-generated letter objecting to Bell’s release to the state Board of Parole.

The PBA has already sued the board on behalf of Piagentini’s widow, claiming they violated the law by authorized Bell’s release without reviewing the minutes from his sentencing.

A judge ordered Bell be kept in prison as the case is reviewed.