Paralyzed In Cop Custody, Cox Case Has New Police Chief Add 'Reforms'

Caution: This story includes graphic and disturbing video.

NEW HAVEN, CT — In light of the Richard "Randy" Cox case, newly-minted New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson along with Mayor Justin Elicker and Chief Administrative Officer Regina Rush-Kittle, announced "reforms and new initiatives" slated for the embattled police department.

Cox, 36, of New Haven, was arrested June 19 at a Juneteenth 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.

Warning: This video contains disturbing scenes.

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 manhandled Cox, as clearly seen on video, as they processed him on charges, and then dragged his body into a holding cell.

Warning: This video contains disturbing scenes.

An ambulance eventually arrived and Cox was rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital. He's paralyzed from the chest down, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump said, and is on a ventilator and feeding tube.

At the time, then-Acting police Chief Rush-Kittle said officer Ronald Pressley, officer Jocelyn Lavandier, and officer Luis Rivera, all working at the jail Sunday, join officers Oscar Diaz and Betsy Segui pulled from duty while their conduct is under investigation by Connecticut State Police.

And, the Justice Department, via U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery, announced Wednesday it's keeping an eye on the probe.

“As I’ve said from day one, the New Haven Police Department is committed to doing everything in our power to make sure an incident like the one that happened to Mr. Cox never happens again," Jacobson said. "The initiatives and reforms we’re announcing today are an important series of actions to make good on that promise."

In direct response to the Cox case, those include new policies and standard operating procedures to enhance safety and security protocols for prisoner transportation, detention facility operations, and individuals in need of medical attention; new department-wide trainings on "active bystandership” and de-escalation.

“These new standard operations protocols and procedures, new department-wide trainings, and upcoming community conversations will make us a better and stronger police force," Jacobson said.

"And will enable us to better to fulfill our commitment to protect, serve, and partner with the community in a way that aligns with our high standards, mission, and values," he said.

Here are the new NHPD 'initiatives and reforms' in response to Cox case

New policies and standard operating procedures (SOP) on prisoner transportation and detention facility operations. Organized in Special Order 22-03 and effective as of July 3rd, these measures compliment NHPD General Order 5.02 and are designed to help ensure the safety of prisoners, officers, and the public when a person is taken into custody and transported. They include:

• Requiring the primary means of transporting prisoners to be in a marked police cruiser.

• Requiring that prisoner conveyance vans can only be used for transportation to court, when a prisoner’s size or other physical conditions preclude the use of a marked patrol vehicle, or for a special event that may result in multiple arrests. The latter two instances also require authorized approval from a supervising officer.

• Requiring all prisoners to be secured in any transport vehicle by proper use of seat belt, and specific documentation and approval requirements in the event that a prisoner is combative or officer safety considerations make doing so impractical.

• Requiring officers to operate any transport vehicle in a manner that is calculated to maintain the safety and security of the prisoner and at a speed not to exceed the posted speed limit.

• Prohibiting officers from the use of cellular telephones, without a hands-free device, while engaging in the transport of a prisoner.

In addition, a comprehensive review of detention facility policies and procedures has been initiated, begun by a new supervising officer, and this will include random body camera audits to support the potential need for enhanced training.

1. New policies and standard operating procedures (SOP) on individuals in need of medical attention. These measures are also codified in Special Order 22-03 and compliment NHPD General Order 5.02. They include:

• Requiring all officers to make an initial inquiry prior to transport and upon arrival at the detention facility during the intake process to determine whether a prisoner is injured and/or needs medical assistance. If a prisoner is injured, complains of injury, appears to be in an unstable medical or mental health status, appears to be in need of medical attention, or requests medical attention prior to transport, the officers must immediately contact their supervisor and request that an EMS be dispatched to their current location.

• Requiring the monitoring of the physical well-being of prisoners during transport.

• Requiring specific procedures to be followed by officers if during the transport a prisoner is injured, complains of injury, appears to be in an unstable medical or mental health status, appears to be in need of medical attention, or requests medical attention, or if the transporting vehicle is involved in a collision.

Complimenting Special Order 22-03 is required department-wide training, which will begin today. All officers will be trained within two weeks, requiring a knowledge test of the content.

The changes outlined in this Special Order will be submitted for permanent adoption by the Police Commission as a General Order of the New Haven Police Department. The Special Order is also aligned with proposed state legislation “concerning the provision of emergency medical services to an individual who is in the custody or control of a peace officer.”

1. New department-wide ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) training, which all officers will be required to complete within the next 6 months. ABLE is national-recognized training program designed “to prepare officers to successfully intervene to prevent harm and to create a law enforcement culture that supports peer intervention” in order to help “prevent misconduct,” “avoid police mistakes,” and “promote officer health and wellness.”

1. New department-wide ICAT (Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics) training, which all officers will be required to complete within the next 6 months. ICAT is nationally-recognized training program that “provides first responding police officers with the tools, skills, and options they need to successfully and safely defuse a range of critical incidents.” Yesterday, the 20 newly sworn-in officers from the New Haven Police Academy’s Class XXV were the first class to graduate trained in ICAT, which is “especially for situations involving persons who are unarmed or are armed with weapons other than firearms, and who may be experiencing a mental health or other crisis.”

1. A series of Public Safety Town Halls and community conversations convened by Mayor Elicker and Chief Jacobson, and open to all New Haven residents, with the first one next week.

• Thursday, July 14th, 6 – 8 pm, at Hill Regional Career High School (140 Legion Ave);
• Tuesday, July 26th, 6 – 8 pm, at Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration (FAME) (255 Blatchley Ave);
• Wednesday, August 3rd, 6 – 8 pm at James Hillhouse High School (480 Sherman Avenue).

In addition to the new policy measures and inistaives, Jacobson has also committed to community policing.

In 1994, in an 82-page "framework for action," the Justice Department published its guide to what makes true community policing and how to achieve it.

When approved by the Board of Alders, Jacobson said he was committed to old-school community policing, like beat cops who actually walk beats.

To achieve the goal of community policing, cops and the community would work in tandem to recognize and work out issues, and then police are "no longer the sole guardians of law and order," but allies.

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

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