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A man convicted of murdering a U.S. park ranger at Point Reyes in 1973 -- reportedly the only federal ranger in California ever slain in the line of duty -- is due to be freed from prison soon, and some rangers are angry. "It's my opinion that if Veronza Bowers gets back onto the street, every law enforcement officer that encounters him, their life is going to be in jeopardy,'' Greg Johnston, president of the U.S. Park Ranger Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, said Friday. But Bowers, who turned 59 Friday, has already been in prison 10 months longer than the 30-year term prescribed for murder under the law in effect in 1973. The U.S. Parole Commission, which had vetoed previous parole dates in 2001 and last April, has approved his release from a Florida federal prison on Feb. 21. Bowers, a former Black Panther, has continued to maintain his innocence, according to a Web site maintained by his supporters. He has an exemplary record in prison, leads groups in meditation and anger management, works with young people and was commended for once disarming another prisoner, said Monty Levenson, who manages the Web site. [more]