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Friends remember slain cop as killer seeks parole
By Norman Miller / News Staff Writer
Friday, March 19, 2004
HOLLISTON -- Police Chief William Peterson walks into the station every day and sees a picture of John Johnson, and he remembers when they were young patrolmen together.
Johnson was the last officer killed in the line of duty when he was shot on Aug. 13, 1981, by a man who stole a car, and Peterson worked with him back in the early days.
"Every day, I come to work and John's picture is hanging up there -- some days are worse than others," said Peterson. "It hurts whenever anyone dies, but when someone dies in the manner John did, it seems to be worse."
On Tuesday, Peterson and friends and family of Johnson gathered to see Johnson's killer, Rolando Jiminez, seek his release from prison after more than 20 years in jail.
Jiminez is being held at the medium security Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk.
"It was an emotionally draining day for everyone," said Peterson. "Quite a few members of his family were there. It still hurts them a lot. His son was 3 years old when it happened. It's 23 years later, and he's still very much affected by him not being there."
Johnson began his night shift Aug. 13 on regular car patrol when the Natick Police Department put out a description for a stolen black and gold Camaro Z-28.
Shortly thereafter, Johnson, sitting in his cruiser in the parking lot outside of Walter's Dairy (now Bertucci's) on Washington Street, noticed a car that matched the description.
He pulled the car over in the parking lot next to Honey Farm's Dairy (now Jiang's Garden), also on Washington Street, and ordered the two occupants out, placing them in front of the car with their hands on the hood.
The car was confirmed stolen, but before Johnson could place them under arrest, both suspects ran off in opposite directions. One headed down Washington Street and the other, Framingham resident Rolando Jiminez, bolted the scene and ran into a area of brush behind the lot.
Johnson chased and caught up with Jiminez. During a struggle, Jiminez got Johnson's gun and shot him once in the chest, and then once more while Johnson was lying on the ground.
Jiminez was arrested later that night on Prentice Street near the Hopkinton town line and was eventually convicted of second-degree murder.
Holliston selectmen Chairman Carl Damigella was Johnson's best man when he married his wife, Gerry, and is godfather to Johnson's daughter, Jessica. Johnson also had a son, Brian.
Damigella also attended Jiminez's hearing.
"It's definitely a reminder, especially after 23 years, to have to go through it so frequently," said Damigella. "I don't know why they allow him to come up for a parole hearing," Damigella said.
Neither Damigella nor Peterson think Jiminez has changed or deserves to be released.
"He definitely has gotten older, but I don't see him any differently now than I did then," Damigella said.
"He's probably had a lot of nights he wished he didn't do it," said Peterson. "I don't know if he's changed or not, but he was a very violent man when he went to jail."
The parole board will not make a decision until early April, a spokesman for the board said.
By Norman Miller / News Staff Writer
Friday, March 19, 2004
HOLLISTON -- Police Chief William Peterson walks into the station every day and sees a picture of John Johnson, and he remembers when they were young patrolmen together.
Johnson was the last officer killed in the line of duty when he was shot on Aug. 13, 1981, by a man who stole a car, and Peterson worked with him back in the early days.
"Every day, I come to work and John's picture is hanging up there -- some days are worse than others," said Peterson. "It hurts whenever anyone dies, but when someone dies in the manner John did, it seems to be worse."
On Tuesday, Peterson and friends and family of Johnson gathered to see Johnson's killer, Rolando Jiminez, seek his release from prison after more than 20 years in jail.
Jiminez is being held at the medium security Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk.
"It was an emotionally draining day for everyone," said Peterson. "Quite a few members of his family were there. It still hurts them a lot. His son was 3 years old when it happened. It's 23 years later, and he's still very much affected by him not being there."
Johnson began his night shift Aug. 13 on regular car patrol when the Natick Police Department put out a description for a stolen black and gold Camaro Z-28.
Shortly thereafter, Johnson, sitting in his cruiser in the parking lot outside of Walter's Dairy (now Bertucci's) on Washington Street, noticed a car that matched the description.
He pulled the car over in the parking lot next to Honey Farm's Dairy (now Jiang's Garden), also on Washington Street, and ordered the two occupants out, placing them in front of the car with their hands on the hood.
The car was confirmed stolen, but before Johnson could place them under arrest, both suspects ran off in opposite directions. One headed down Washington Street and the other, Framingham resident Rolando Jiminez, bolted the scene and ran into a area of brush behind the lot.
Johnson chased and caught up with Jiminez. During a struggle, Jiminez got Johnson's gun and shot him once in the chest, and then once more while Johnson was lying on the ground.
Jiminez was arrested later that night on Prentice Street near the Hopkinton town line and was eventually convicted of second-degree murder.
Holliston selectmen Chairman Carl Damigella was Johnson's best man when he married his wife, Gerry, and is godfather to Johnson's daughter, Jessica. Johnson also had a son, Brian.
Damigella also attended Jiminez's hearing.
"It's definitely a reminder, especially after 23 years, to have to go through it so frequently," said Damigella. "I don't know why they allow him to come up for a parole hearing," Damigella said.
Neither Damigella nor Peterson think Jiminez has changed or deserves to be released.
"He definitely has gotten older, but I don't see him any differently now than I did then," Damigella said.
"He's probably had a lot of nights he wished he didn't do it," said Peterson. "I don't know if he's changed or not, but he was a very violent man when he went to jail."
The parole board will not make a decision until early April, a spokesman for the board said.
