Justice Served: Ex-Buffalo Cop Receives Prison Term for Fatal Drunken Driving Crash

A former Buffalo Police officer, David C. Johnson, has been sentenced to 2 to 6 years in state prison for an aggravated vehicular homicide that tragically claimed the life of his passenger, Offie L. Dozier. The devastating crash, fueled by Johnson's intoxication, underscores the severe consequences of impaired driving and has brought a measure of justice to the victim's grieving family.

State Supreme Court Justice M.

William Boller handed down the sentence to the 34-year-old Johnson, who had pleaded guilty to the felony charge. The incident, which occurred in March 2021, saw Johnson driving a Ford F-150 on Route 33 near Humboldt Parkway. Prosecutors revealed that Johnson was operating his vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .17%, more than twice the legal limit, when he sped through a red light at the intersection of Best Street and Humboldt Parkway.

His reckless actions led to him striking a retaining wall, resulting in the immediate death of his 33-year-old passenger, Offie L. Dozier, at the scene.

This was not Johnson's first encounter with impaired driving. Evidence presented in court highlighted a troubling history, including multiple previous convictions for driving while intoxicated or impaired.

Furthermore, he had faced disciplinary action from the Buffalo Police Department in 2017 following an off-duty drunken driving incident, a stark reminder of a pattern of dangerous behavior that ultimately culminated in this fatal crash.

The sentencing hearing was a somber occasion, attended by members of Dozier's family who expressed their profound loss and the irreplaceable void left by his death.

Assistant District Attorney Laura Christ represented the prosecution, while Herbert Green served as Johnson's defense attorney.

While Johnson could have faced a much harsher penalty, with potential sentences ranging from 8 to 25 years in state prison, Justice Boller considered certain mitigating factors.

These included Johnson's expressed remorse, his prior military service, and other .