LOCAL NEWS

Police officer seeks changes in the Utah Board of Pardons

Dec 11, 2021, 3:22 PM

SALT LAKE CITY — A patrol sergeant who survived an attack of gunfire is hoping for judicial reform after his attacker received a parole release from prison.  

Zane Openshaw served eight years after being convicted of attempted murder and admitting he wanted to kill a cop in 2012. He was sentenced five years to life in prison.

“I was hoping he’d kill me, yes. I was too cowardly to shoot myself. Even more so, I wanted somebody else to do it for me,” Zane Openshaw, 26, told Robert Yeates, vice chairman of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, in a recorded copy of his parole hearing in 2016.

Openshaw, who has a criminal history full of weapons charges and arson, pulled out a handgun in 2012 and fired eight shots into the patrol car that Sgt. Jared Jensen was sitting in.

“He produced a handgun and proceeded to empty that gun — eight rounds into the driver’s side of my patrol vehicle,” Jensen said. “I survived, but it’s been emotionally damaging.”

Jensen was a patrol officer in Sunset at the time of the shooting. Now, he is a sergeant with the Kaysville Police Department.

“Personally, I have put handcuffs on the same violent offender time and time and time again,” Jensen said. “Violent offenders have a higher propensity to commit violent crime — it’s a fact. So, why are we not addressing it as a fact and trying to overcome it?”

Jensen sent a letter to Gov. Spencer Cox Friday, asking to join forces with lawmakers on taking a closer look at violent crime offenders.

“Right now, our state isn’t doing enough, and I want to see change,” Jensen said.

Judicial officials told Jensen the reason Openshaw will be released on parole on Tuesday, Dec. 14, is because the officer wasn’t injured during the attempted killing.

“I am here to argue that his intent and his actions that day are what should be under the microscope. I want a system where we’re concerned about making victims whole again, where we are actively dedicated to the overall safety of our community, instead of offering bargains, pleas and deals to those committing violent crime,” Jensen said.

Violent crime in Utah increased 21% in 2020.

Also on the rise are bail reform and probation, meaning violent, convicted felons are being released more often.

According to the Utah U.S. Marshal’s office, currently one third of all violent Utah inmates are repeat offenders. 

“Once someone has crossed that threshold into being okay to attempt to take a human life, what are they not capable of? I want safer communities, and that means holding violent fugitives accountable,” Jensen said.

KSL-TV reached out to The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole Officials for a statement about Openshaw’s upcoming prison release. They did not return our phone calls.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Man being taken on stretcher to an ambulance figures blurred...

Lauren Steinbrecher

West Jordan man trying ‘to be funny’ allegedly shot and killed best friend

Investigators believe a joke between friends turned into the shooting death of a West Jordan man. The fatal mistake is also turning into a message police hope every gun owner can hear.

10 hours ago

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

10 hours ago

small housing units...

Debbie Worthen

Utah’s micro-shelter pilot program gets extension to help homeless

A micro-shelter pilot program will stay in place for at least six more months.

11 hours ago

A trench used for training a team of firefighters to be a part of Utah County's Special Response Te...

Shelby Lofton

Heavy Rescue school students respond to real-life emergency during trench collapse training

A team of firefighter students training to be on a Special Response Team rescued a man buried in a trench collapse the week they'd been studying trenches.

11 hours ago

The Cache County Council took up the e-mail controversy...

Mike Anderson

A single text stirs political fallout in Cache County election

A text message is blowing up into a whole lot of political fallout in Cache County.

12 hours ago

A map shows where the Chief Toquer reservoir will connect to the Ash Creek Reservoir....

Cary Schwanitz

Feds pour $7 million into southern Utah water pipeline project

A project to build a new pipeline that will run from the Ash Creek Reservoir to the Chief Toquer Reservoir received $7 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Police officer seeks changes in the Utah Board of Pardons