Help Keep Trooper Killer in Prison: Oppose

Parole
Forty years after the brutal murder of New York State Trooper Emerson J. Dillon during a traffic stop
along the Thruway near Canastota, the New York State Troopers PBA is asking its members, as well as
the public, to take action to ensure that his murderer remains in prison.

John Ruzas, who was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years of life in the slaying
of Trooper Dillon, has been denied parole 11 times. During the week of Nov. 9, 2015, Ruzas will receive
another opportunity to ask for freedom when he appears before the New York State Parole Board.

When Ruzas murdered Trooper Dillon on Oct. 24, 1974, he was already on parole from Attica for his role
in two robberies in New York City. Trooper Dillon, a 16-year veteran of the State Police, initiated the
traffic stop, unaware the occupants of the vehicle were fleeing a jewelry store robbery. Ruzas, a
passenger in the car, shot Trooper Dillon in the left side of his heart, killing him.

For nearly four decades after the death of her high school sweetheart, Mrs. June Dillon had kept up a
valiant fight to keep her husbands killer in prison. She remained the matriarch of a family which saw
countless birthdays, holidays, weddings and births of grandchildren, all of which were experienced
without Trooper Dillon. Unfortunately, Mrs. Dillon passed away on September 25, 2013, so the fight to
keep John Ruzas in prison now rests on her children and the law enforcement community.

The PBA has concerns about this years hearing based on a recent decision by Orange County Supreme
Court Justice Sandra Sciortino. Justice Sciortino ruled that the Parole Board cannot deny parole and
focus exclusively on the inmates crime but instead had to also focus on future-focused risk
assessment procedures. This means that the wording of the Parole Boards recommendation will be
critical this year.

During his time in prison, Ruzas has been doing some writing, including a piece that gives the reader a
look into Ruzass current state of mind regarding the murder of Trooper Dillon. Titled Tragedy 2 Trial and
Beyond (http://minutesbeforesix.blogspot.com/2014/11/tragedy-2-trial-beyond.html), it gives a
firsthand account of that terrible day on October 24, 1974 and the fact that Ruzas equally blames
Trooper Dillon for performing his duties that ultimately led to his death. In another writing he laments,
I have enjoyed no vacations, sick leaves or 8 hour shifts, but Ive lived the 24/7 monotony with the sole
purpose of maintaining my humanity, and someday, my release.

A husband and father of six, Trooper Dillon loved being a New York State Trooper. He acted bravely and
heroically until the end, as he was able to fire two return shots as he backpedaled across four lanes of
highway to try to reach safety. One of the shots struck the vehicle he had stopped.

The State Troopers PBA is joining the family of Trooper Emerson J. Dillon to keep John E. Ruzas in prison,
and the public is welcome to join us in our efforts by sending a letter of opposition to the Board of
Parole either via mail or online.
If you would like to mail a letter of opposition to the Board of Parole, it should be sent to the following
address:

NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

Attn: Director Janet Koupash, Office of Victim Assistance

1220 Washington Ave, Building 2
Albany, New York 12226

If you would like to submit a letter of opposition to the Board of Parole online, please visit its website by
clicking on the following link:

https://www.parole.ny.gov/boardletters/forminput.jsp

After you fill out your personal information, you will see fields for Din, Inmate Name and Subject of
Your Email. Here is what you will type in:

Din: 75C0385 (its a zero after the C)

Inmate Last Name: Ruzas

Inmate First Name: John

Subject of Your Email: Letter of Opposition