New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has issued a Notification of Investigative Findings regarding the investigation into the death of Mark Bemis, who died on June 18, 2025 following an encounter with members of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) in Chautauqua County.
According to the OSI report, the incident began on the afternoon of June 18, when two CCSO deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic dispute at Bemis’ residence. Upon arrival, the deputies encountered Bemis, who was in the garage, holding a shotgun. The first deputy took out his service weapon and instructed Bemis to drop his weapon, but Bemis fired a shot into the air and refused commands to lower his gun.
The standoff continued for several minutes, with the deputies repeatedly instructing Bemis to put down his weapon. At one point, Bemis pointed his gun in the direction of the first deputy, who was behind a tree. The deputies then exchanged several rounds of gunfire, striking Bemis. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators recovered a shotgun at the scene, and the incident was captured on the deputies’ body-worn cameras. The OSI report notes that the case was reviewed under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, which requires OSI to assess every incident where a police officer may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission.
In cases where the evidence and legal analysis are clear, OSI may issue a Notification of Investigative Findings announcing the conclusion of the investigation. In this case, the OSI report concludes that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers’ use of deadly physical force was justified under the law.
The final Investigation Report will follow, as required by law. The incident has sparked controversy, with many calling for greater accountability in police use of force cases. The OSI report’s findings have been met with skepticism by some, who argue that the investigation was incomplete or biased.
As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the OSI report’s findings will hold up to scrutiny. One thing is certain, however: the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and its deputies have been cleared in the Mark Bemis shooting death, at least for now.
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