Vigil held for Hillsdale man killed by NYSP officer

COPAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Community members held a vigil Saturday night to honor a Hillsdale man who was shot and killed by a New York State Police trooper in September. Family and friends shared what they loved about the late James Dellea and how they're fighting for more mental health resources.

"[He was] a grandfather, a father, a hands-on person in multiple people's life," said Samantha Dellea, James' eldest daughter.

James, who family and friends called Jimbo, was a 48-year-old father to four children and a few grandchildren as well. He worked as a mechanic but loved racecar driving during his free time.

“My father was not just my father, he was best friend, he was my safe place, he was someone who I could go to and talk to and just have the weight of the world lifted off of me because he shouldered that weight for me,” said Samantha.

Family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil where they held a moment of silence and hosted a guest speaker and Daniel's Law activist Luke. He spoke about the importance of getting this law passed to allow for more mental health resources for people who needed them, like James.

“We know that we must have better options for folks and a more robust mental health system to really provide the support that thousands of New Yorkers and everybody else in our state needs," said Luke.

Dellea was fatally shot by New York State Police officer Brian Rudolph, who was off duty at the time, on Sept. 11, 2024. Family members said they called police to help James that day because they knew he was struggling with his mental health. Police found him in the parking lot of the Albany Saratoga Speedway on Route 9 in the town of Malta.

The Attorney General's office released body camera video following the incident. It showed that a police officer asked Dellea to get out of the car but he refused and drove off. The officer followed his car into a church parking lot, where other officers met him, including officer Rudolph. They asked Dellea to get out of the car multiple times but Dellea began hitting the window with his fist, then broke the passenger side window with a "long gun."

This caused Trooper Rudolph to shoot Dellea three times. Melissa Simmons, Dellea's wife of 33 years said she wish things would've played out differently.

“I wish he would’ve given him some time," said Simmons. "Because then he would still be with us and we wouldn't be going through all this heartache."

Simmons believes that more attention to mental health can save lives. She asked the attorney general's office to implement mental health evaluations to police officers. She said the family is also filing a lawsuit against New York State Police, but did not want to provide more details on it.

“I would never expect them [police officers] to put their lives at risk and take the chance of not going home to their families, but as much as they want to go home to their families, we want our family members home too. And our family member didn't come home," said Simmons.

The family is asking anyone who wants to help, to sign the petition to get Daniel's Law passed. For more information on Daniel's Law, visit their website. Trooper Rudolph was placed on voluntary paid leave. NEWS10 reached out to state police to see if there were any updates there, but have not yet heard back. Stick with NEWS10 for updates.