Last 2 Cops Fired In Case Of Randy Cox, Paralyzed In Police Custody

NEW HAVEN, CT — The last two police officers of five that were criminally charged in the violent manhandling of Richard "Randy" Cox after he became paralyzed in a cop paddy wagon, have been fired.

New Haven police Sgt. Betsy Segui, 41, officer Oscar Diaz, 55, officer Ronald Pressley, 57, officer Jocelyn Lavandier, 36, and officer Luis Rivera, 41, were charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and cruelty to persons last fall after a state police investigation.

At Wednesday's city Board of Police Commissioners meeting, members voted unanimously to fire Segui and Diaz. The board fired Lavandier and Rivera last month.

A year ago, on Juneteenth, Cox, 38, of New Haven, was arrested at a block party for allegedly carrying a weapon and other charges. While handcuffed in a seatbeltless police van en route to the police department's detention center, he suffered a serious head injury that resulted in a broken neck. Officer Oscar Diaz, driving at around 36 MPH in a 25 MPH zone, stopped short to avoid a crash, which sent Cox flying, slamming head first into the van wall.

A series of "disturbing" and graphic videos from police body-worn cameras, and other video footage, show that police officers ignored Cox's cries that he believed his neck was broken, paralyzing him. The jail officers then violently manhandled Cox, as clearly seen on video, as they processed him on charges, and then dragged his body into a holding cell.

At one point in the video of the incident, Cox can be heard, softly asking for help.

"Help me. I don't want to die like this."

It's all on video.

Warning: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Warning: GRAPHIC CONTENT

The commission voted on Police Chief Karl Jacobson's March recommendation, following a months-long internal investigation, that all five officers be fired. Pressley retired shortly before that announcement earlier this year.

Mayor Justin Elicker said the firings were "important and necessary" to ensure police "accountability for the mistreatment of Randy Cox while he was in their custody and care."

"This has not been an easy process, but it has been a necessary one – and we are now a stronger city than we were before because of the conversation we’ve had and the actions we’ve taken as a community," Elicker said in an emailed statement. "I want to thank Randy and his family for their patience as we worked through this difficult process together.”

City settles: "Largest settlement in a police misconduct case in our nation’s history"

Earlier this month, the civil case, Richard Cox v. City of New Haven, was settled for $45 million "to resolve all claims against the City of New Haven." Cox had sued for $100 million. Of the $45 million settlement, $30 million will be covered by the city’s insurance, and the remainder will be paid by the city.

Cox's attorneys Louis Rubano and R.J. Weber, the local lawyers handling the case in court, and the face of the case, civil Rights lawyer Ben Crump, released this statement:

“This historic settlement reflects the commitment of New Haven leadership to fully value Randy Cox’s life and support him through the difficult journey ahead. The city’s mistakes have been well documented. But today is a moment to look to the future, so New Haven residents can have confidence in their city and their police department. As the largest settlement in a police misconduct case in our nation’s history, this settlement sends a message to the country that we know we must be better than this."

Elicker agreed:

"From day one, we promised accountability, transparency and action," the mayor said in a statement. "While nothing can ever return Randy’s life to the way it was prior to this incident, with the police disciplinary process now complete, the civil lawsuit now resolved and the comprehensive set of reforms now adopted by the police department, we have demonstrated clearly and unequivocally as a community that Randy’s life matters, Black Lives Matter and that we are resolved to do everything in our power to ensure an incident like this never happens again.

Read more about the Richard "Randy" Cox case from Patch

• 'Disturbing' Videos Emerge After Man Paralyzed In Police Custody: PD
• 3 More Cops On Leave As State Investigates Man Paralyzed In PD Custody
• Civil Rights Lawyer Crump To Represent Man Paralyzed In PD Custody
• Paralyzed In Paddy Wagon, Randy Cox Sues City, 5 Officers For $100M
• Freddie Gray Invoked By Lawyer For Man Paralyzed In Cop Transport Van
• After Alders Unanimous OK, Jacobson Sworn In As New Haven's Top Cop
• Tamika Mallory Joins Friday March For Justice For Richard "Randy" Cox
• Justice Department Keeping Eye On Randy Cox Case, Says US Attorney
• Cops Involved In Randy Cox Case Charged By State Police After Probe
• After Internal Probe, Chief Recommends Firing Of 4 Cops In Cox Case