Edson Thevenin

JUSTICE for
EDSON THEVENIN

Father, husband, community member, murdered by Troy police in April 2016

Edson Thevenin was murdered by the Troy PD in April 2016. In 2021, the City of Troy settled the a civil rights lawsuit brought to federal court by Cinthia Thevenin for $1.55 million. In September 2020, former District Attorney of Troy, Joel Abelove, was acquitted of all charges (perjury and obstruction) related to his handling of the Thevenin case. Having finally been brought before a judge by the Attorney General's Office, Judge Nichols let Abelove off once again.

Those who murdered Edson Thevenin and those who covered up the murder of Edson Thevenin benefit from the sort of amnesia created by the passing of time and how difficult it is to trace the intricate elements of this case and cover up.

We have created a chronological timeline with links to news articles, court documents, and reports to aid us in the struggle for justice for Edson Thevenin and his family. To help those just learning about this case. To advance this cause for justice.

We will not rest until we have justice for Edson Thevenin!

Author: angela

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  1. April 18, 2016 Troy PD Holds Press Conference on the Shooting Prior to any investigation, the Troy Police Department immediately rallies behind Sergeant French. Troy Police Chief John Tedesco, at a press conference the day after the shooting, publicly states: “At this juncture in the investigation while it’s still ongoing, it would appear that the actions of Sergeant French are certainly in line with the law, […] Read more
  2. D.A. Abelove Incorrectly Tells the Press that the NY State Attorney’s General Office Would not Seek Jurisdiction District Attorney Joel Abelove tells the press, incorrectly and deliberately,  that the NY State Attorney General’s Office would not be getting involved despite the fact that the Attorney General’s office had investigators present beginning hours after the shooting occurred. Executive Order 147, signed by Governor Cuomo in 2015, appoints the NY State Attorney General as Special […] Read more
  3. Troy PD Begins Investigation While Attempting to Deny the Attorney General Office’s Jurisdiction Troy police begin their investigation despite the existence of an Executive Order requiring local police and prosecutors to turn over to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) any investigation in which an unarmed civilian is killed by police officers.  From The New York Times: “The order specifically requires that a district attorney obtain state […] Read more
  4. April 19, 2016 Abelove Pushes that Thevenin’s Car was a Weapon Mitchell Paurowski, former Troy police captain and investigator for the Attorney General’s office, was on the scene the morning of the shooting. Paurowski requested information at the time and followed up two days later seeking video footage, radio transmissions, medical reports, and witness accounts. The Troy Police Department and Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove […] Read more
  5. April 22, 2016 D.A. Joel Abelove Brings Sergeant French and the Shooting of Edson Thevenin to a Grand Jury Rensselaer County D.A. Joel Abelove presents the Edson Thevenin shooting to a Rensselaer County grand jury FIVE DAYS after the shooting occurred. For context, the quickest period of time that it took D.A. Abelove’s office to bring a homicide case to a grand jury was FORTY days and the average time period was 170 days. […] Read more
  6. April 29, 2016 Executive Order 147.4 Authorizes the Attorney General to Take Over the Investigation into the Killing of Edson Thevenin Governor Cuomo issues Executive Order 147.4, an amendment to Executive Order 147, which authorizes the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to seize control of the Thevenin investigation from the Troy Police Department and the Rensselaer County D.A. Abelove. Each time the Office of the Attorney General assumes jurisdiction in a new case, an amendment […] Read more
  7. September 1, 2016 Attorney General Takes Control of the Investigation into the Shooting Office of Attorney General Schneiderman takes control of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Edson Thevenin by Troy Police Sergeant Randall French. According to the OAG report that will be released in January 2018, “Investigators from the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) responded to the incident scene the morning of the shooting in […] Read more
  8. September 14, 2016 Thevenin’s Family Files a Federal Lawsuit Against City of Troy and Officer Randall French Cinthia Thevenin files a civil lawsuit in federal court alleging that Officer Randall French’s shooting of her husband was an unjustified use of deadly force. This lawsuit is still ongoing as of September 2020. Read more
  9. September 1, 2017 Grand Jury to Analyze Abelove’s Handling of the Shooting of Edson Thevenin The New York State attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman impanels a grand jury to investigate D.A. Abelove in relation to the fatal police shooting of Edson Thevenin. Read more
  10. December 1, 2017 D.A. Abelove is Charged with a Felony and Misdemeanors Following the grand jury hearing, the Office of the Attorney General charges Abelove with felony perjury and two misdemeanor counts of official misconduct. The first misdemeanor count charges that Abelove withheld evidence from the Thevenin grand jury about witness statements that contradicted French’s account. The second misconduct count accuses Abelove of unlawfully allowing Sergeant French […] Read more

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Author: angela
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