Man who killed Holliston police officer John Johnson in 1981 is released on parole

HOLLISTON — The day after the 43rd anniversary of Holliston police officer John E. Johnson's murder, his killer was released from prison.

Rolando Jimenez, 65, was released on parole on Wednesday. He had served 42 years after he was convicted in Middlesex Superior Court of second-degree murder in the Aug. 13, 1981, slaying of Johnson.

"As a police officer, as a human being, and as your police chief, I am disgusted with the Parole Board's unrighteous decision to release inmate Jimenez from prison," Police Chief Matthew Stone said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Daily News reports, Johnson was working a night shift on the day of his death when he spotted a black and gold Camaro Z-28 that Natick police had reported stolen. Johnson pulled the car over on Washington Street in the parking lot of what was then a Honey Dew Donuts.

'Unacceptable risk':Man who killed Holliston police officer is denied parole a third time

Officer Johnson pulled over car that was reported stolen in Natick

Johnson, it was reported, ordered the two men in the vehicle to get out. The two men got out of the stolen car but then ran in different directions. Johnson chased Jimenez into some brush behind the lot and during a struggle, Jimenez got Johnson's gun, shot him in the chest and shot him a second time when he was on the ground, wounded.

Johnson, who was 31 and a six-year veteran of the force, is the only Holliston police officer killed in the line of duty. He had a wife, Gerry, and two children — Jessica, then 10, and Brian, 3.

Jimenez, who lived in Framingham, was later arrested and eventually convicted of second-degree murder on Feb. 9, 1982. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Jimenez was denied parole five times before being granted it last year

Jimenez was denied parole five times, most recently in 2019. However, after a parole hearing last year, the Parole Board voted to release him.

In its decision, the Parole Board noted the strong opposition of Stone, Johnson's wife Gerry, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and others to Jimenez's release. But board members also said they believed Jimenez is a low risk to reoffend and has worked on himself as a person while in prison.

'Done it every year':Memorial set for slain Holliston officer John Johnson

"The Board also considered a risk and needs assessment and whether risk reduction programs could effectively minimize Mr. Jimenez's risk of recidivism," the board wrote in its decision. "After applying this standard to the circumstances of Mr. Jimenez's case, the Board is of the opinion that Mr. Jimenez is rehabilitated and, therefore, merits parole, subject to special conditions."

Those conditions include serving six months in a lower security facility; having an approved home plan; observing a curfew of between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.; to be subject to electronic monitoring; to have no drugs or alcohol and to be subject to random tests; to have no contact with the victim's family; and to undergo mental health counseling to deal with the adjustment from going from prison to civil life.

Chief Stone: 'No rehabilitation program can undo' what Jimenez did

Stone, in his statement, ripped the Parole Board's decision.

"The murder of Officer John Johnson was not an accident," the Holliston chief said. "It was not a mistake. And it was not a lapse in judgment by Rolando Jimenez. This was an ambush. This was violent. And this was a murder of a police officer. No time in prison, no educational classes and no rehabilitation program can undo what Rolando Jimenez did on that dreadful August evening more than 43 years ago. Inmate Jimenez not only murdered the patriarch of the Johnson family, but he terrified a community that still affects many of us today.

"The decision by the Massachusetts Parole Board to release the murderer of a police officer back into the society in which he once terrorized is not only unfathomable, but it goes against every moral that is right and that is just."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.