After a New York State Police Officer is shot by a member of the New York State Police, Officers at the scene of the incident begin covering up their own gross misconduct and decide to frame their “subject,” Jason Johnson for their own disastrous mistakes. Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak and the New York State Police, hide evidence, delete body and dash cam footage, suppress eyewitness testimony, lie under oath, and falsely certify multiple, spontaneous police equipment failures. These egregious actions and flagrant disregard for the law led to the malicious prosecution of Dr. Johnson, rendering a wrongful conviction of Jason for crimes HE DID NOT COMMIT!
New York State Police Troop C, has a long-standing record of responding with deliberate indifference to State Police misconduct, federal oversight is indispensable. For decades, the New York State Police have failed to address this issue effectively. There is a troubling practice of commending and promoting officers even after they have committed misconduct, as observed in this case. Without accountability or disciplinary measures, New York State Police officers continue to act with impunity, undermining public trust and potentially compromising the community’s safety. The state of New York will do anything to keep this incident quiet and avoid public disclosure of their breakdown of command structure within Troop C. Dr. Jason Johnson has been wrongfully convicted and consequently sentenced to a 60-year term for a crime he did not commit to protect the authorities involved in the misconduct. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to trust that the State of New York will conduct a thorough investigation with an open mind, as New York State Police members’ stated fear of a “heavy lawsuit” at the time of the incident continues to influence their actions. Our pursuit of justice demands immediate action. We must secure the evidence, shed light on the misconduct, and advocate for federal oversight. The truth must prevail, and we cannot allow this dereliction of duty to persist. The time for change is now.
On the night of June 9, 2021, a Broome County Sheriff responds to a call for a person writing on the ground with chalk. After a deliberate and planned escalation on behalf of Deputy Emily Zielewicz, Jason Johnson is targeted and baited by the sheriff. As more Broome County Sheriffs and New York State Police officers arrive they begin to pull their weapons, and in a moment of utter carelessness, an officer accidentally shoots NY State Trooper Rebecca Seager. Immediately the officers at the scene decide to implicate Jason and call for his death. Some officers were upset about being forced into participating in the corruption and misconduct of their fellow officers. Please follow the links to hear police conversations caught on body cameras the night of this incident.
- Broome County Sheriff Deputy Emily Zielewicz responded to a call about a person writing on the ground with sidewalk chalk. When she arrived she located her “subject” (Jason Johnson) and baited him.
- Johnson was on his own property, he demanded that the deputy state her business, and when she refused, he retreated to his house.
- Deputy Zielewicz then called for more police, which further escalated the situation into a crisis.
- Jason who sensed foul play panicked, he took his hunting rifle and announced he was going to the river.
- Jason ordered the Police to leave his property. Lacking charges the Police were instructed to leave by their “Chain of command.”
- Seconds after Deputy Zielewicz heard “racking” (loading a semi-automatic rifle), a NYS Trooper staged down the road, was shot in her hip.
- The Trooper claimed she was hit by Jason, but the evidence and body cameras tell a very different story.
Immediately after she was shot the police began to grapple with the disaster that started over sidewalk chalk. Police began a massive manhunt to murder Jason Johnson. A massive manhunt means that massive resources are used:
- Manpower, NYS Police called in dozens of Troopers to search and kill Jason
- Airpower, NYS Police called in helicopters and drones
- Canine power, NYS Police used highly trained Police Dogs to help hunt for Jason
This crime scene cover-up has cost, New York State and Broome County Tax Payers, an exhaustive amount of money. Following the crime scene the costs of framing Jason and prosecuting him have been astronomical.
Please view the Deputy Zielewicz link to learn more. Instead of holding Deputy Zielewicz accountable for her grave misconduct she was awarded and promoted.