Man convicted of killing trooper in 1974 to be released

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A New York court has ruled against a police union’s appeal to keep in prison a man convicted of fatally shooting a state trooper in 1974.

The Post-Standard of Syracuse reports that 74-year-old John Ruzas is scheduled to be released Monday, 43 years after the shooting near Lenox in central New York.

Trooper Emerson Dillon was shot and killed in 1974 after he stopped a speeding car that contained two men suspected of robbing a jewelry store. Ruzas was sentenced to 25 years to life for the shooting.

Ruzas was denied parole 11 times, with one of his daughters and the trooper union writing to oppose his release. The union said Saturday it is “extremely disappointed” in the ruling.

A judge noted that Ruzas uses a wheelchair and has expressed remorse.