MINEOLA, NY – A former New York state trooper who shot himself and then falsely claimed he was wounded by an unknown gunman on a Long Island highway was sentenced Wednesday to six months in jail, bringing an end to a case that wasted hundreds of hours of law enforcement resources.
Thomas Mascia was also given five years of probation and ordered to undergo mental health treatment and pay nearly $290,000 in restitution in Nassau County court. The 27-year-old pleaded guilty in May to falsely reporting an incident, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct.
Mascia claimed he was shot in the leg on October 30, 2024, by a driver while parked on the shoulder of the Southern State Parkway, about a mile from his home. He described the fictitious shooter as a “dark-skinned” man who fled in a car bearing temporary New Jersey plates heading toward New York City.
The fabricated report sparked a massive regionwide manhunt, with law enforcement agencies deploying significant resources to find the dangerous suspect who had allegedly shot a state trooper. Police stopped vehicles matching Mascia’s description and investigated numerous leads, all based on a complete fabrication.
Instead, prosecutors revealed, Mascia had staged the entire incident. He scattered shell casings at the scene, then shot himself at a nearby park before stashing the .22-caliber rifle. He then drove back to the highway and called for backup, setting in motion the elaborate deception.
The investigation eventually uncovered the truth, leading to Mascia’s suspension without pay and a criminal investigation by state police. He resigned from the force in January after the evidence against him became overwhelming.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly called the former officer’s actions “disgraceful” in a statement following the sentencing. “His lies wasted hundreds of hours of law enforcement manpower, deeply cost taxpayers in Nassau County, and betrayed the public’s trust of those in uniform,” Donnelly said.
Jeffrey Lichtman, who represents Mascia and his parents, said in an email that his client suffers from a mental health problem and needed help rather than incarceration. The defense argued that Mascia’s actions were a cry for help from someone struggling with psychological issues.
The case has raised questions about mental health screening and support for law enforcement officers. The demanding nature of police work can take a significant toll on officers’ psychological well-being, experts say, though that does not excuse criminal conduct.
Mascia’s family expressed disappointment with the sentence, saying their son was a troubled young man who made a terrible mistake. The nearly $290,000 in restitution is intended to reimburse taxpayers for the cost of the massive but unnecessary law enforcement response to his false report.
