To Special Prosecutor- Washington County District Attorney, Tony Jordan , Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A Heggen and Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo,

 

In early November 2014 a video was released on the internet showing Saratoga Sheriff Shawn Glans slapping a young man in the face, as he demanded his car keys in order to search the young man's vehicle. The young man (Colin Fitch) was never charged with a crime and eventually after days of discussion, the Sheriff's Office of Saratoga County, New York pressed only one charge of official misconduct on Sgt. Shawn Glans.

 

We recognize that the charges as of November 10th, 2014 are not sufficient in the name of justice and

 

We are asking that more charges be filed and justice be served. We are also asking that the name of the officer(s) accompanying Sgt. Shawn Glans be released, considering it was him/her/them who actually made the illegal search. The failure to intervene by the unknown officer(s) on the scene should be recognized and processed according to the law as well.

 

Where as, on Friday, November 7th, 2014 the officer in question came in contact with Colin Fitch in Saratoga County of New York

 

Where as, DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER COLOR OF LAW Summary: Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. For the purpose of Section 242, acts under "color of law" include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official's lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. It is not necessary that the crime be motivated by animus toward the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the victim. The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any.

 

Where as, constitutional principles of search and seizure under article IV and article V as well as due process and equality of law under the XIV have been infringed upon.

 

Where as, the safety and duty to “protect and serve” has been dis regarded and failure to uphold The Constitution of New York and therefor in violation of The United States of America Federal Constitution.

 

Where as, there is video evidence of an assault and coercion to illegally force a search and seizure under duress from the threat of force of an officer with a loaded weapon

 

Where as, the people of Saratoga and surrounding counties, the people of New York State and The people of The United States of America demand justice in this particular incident.

 

Outside of more charges in addition to the misconduct, we recommend that Saratoga County Sheriff Sgt. Shawn Glans face the disciplinary/employment board and be officials terminated from any police employment within the County, removing and including all tax paid benefits/pension thereafter (outside of his own monetary support) and once the current criminal investigation concludes, that he be charged and arrested as any normal civilian for breaking the law while on duty as a high ranking sheriff sergeant in Saratoga County. The failure of the Sheriff to terminate Sgt. Glans, even with the video evidence present, sets a precedent as well as the minimum criminal charges for this particular officer. Now, the prosecution must decide the extent or precedent that they set not only for the local courts, but other police officers as well. Due to the circumstances, a resignation shouldn’t have been available and although the officer was suspended for several days, this needs to be addressed or it leads to the conclusion of incompetency upon the accountability of disciplinary action of the Saratoga Sheriff’s Office. The evidence was available and the abrupt resignation was suspicious to many.

 

 

 

We expect a response of public affirmation to our petition and as a violent offender, Saratoga Sheriff Sgt. Shawn Glans should be arrested as soon as possible in accordance to the video evidence that has publically circulated.  We believe in oversight of tax paid officials and employees. We also believe that the name of the other officer present, should be announced publically and of question as well. We will continue to advocate for justice locally, even if it includes organizing and mobilizing political voices from across the state. We expect that our local officials do not need state or federal intervention and that is why we elect them. Thank you for reading, listening and helping provide some form of justice in the name of the United States Constitution. We support the hard working police in our community and we believe that we must make it clear that they are part of the reason that we move forward this petition for justice.