BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — An investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) found the shooting of Tyler Green by police was justified to prevent the death of his child, and recommends the state change laws to allow medical helicopter staff to carry blood for transfusions.
In April, police arrived at Green’s residence to perform a wellness check on his partner and his two-year-old when they found the three of them on the front lawn. According to OSI, Green was lunging at his partner with a knife when Patrol Sergeant Ralph Pajerski and another officer pulled their guns and ordered Green to drop his weapon, but he cut his partner, swung the knife at officers, and then grabbed his son. Pajerski fired two shots.
“After a complete and exhaustive review of this incident, my office concluded that the officer was justified in his use of force to protect the life of a two-year old child,” said Attorney General James.
The OSI also reviewed the medical care he received and is recommending a change in New York’s law regarding blood supply on medical helicopters.
The law prohibited medical staff from giving Green blood during the medevac flight from Oneonta to Albany, where he was pronounced dead. The first hospital he was brought was not equipped to treat him.
James recommends New York “consider joining every other state in the nation and permit air ambulances to carry and provide blood to critically injured patients.”
“Oneonta is a small community. It is a very tightly-knit community. Many people here have lived here their entire life. It is not one where we expect to see a fatal shooting,” Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig told WSKG shortly after the shooting. “But this can happen anywhere.”