Stony Brook Prof Faces Backlash After Posts Question Deadly Police Confrontation: Report

STONY BROOK, NY — A Stony Brook University professor took some heat this week after she questioned the actions of Suffolk police officers involved in a deadly confrontation with a man in Medford last week, according to a report.

In the comments section of a Stony Brook Medicine Instagram post about the officers, Prof. Anna Hayward questioned whether the three officers could have de-escalated the confrontation with Enrique Lopez, who stabbed two of the officers before he was shot dead Dec. 28, The New York Post reported.

Officers responded to Lopez's home because he threatened roommates with a fire extinguisher and when they arrived, he stabbed them, one very seriously, police said.

Hayward's account is no longer publicly viewable.

In her comments using the handle "hayanna72," Hayward, who teaches social welfare, wrote: “This was a wellness check — why didn’t they de-escalate the situation?,” The Post reported.

“Why did a man have to die? What about the man they murdered?” Hayward wrote, according to the outlet.

Suffolk's Police Benevolent Association's leadership shot back in their own Instagram post by calling Hayward "anti-police" and accused her of slander over her comments, as one police officer "fights for his life after being stabbed in the neck."

The organization said Hayward "displayed a stunning level of ignorance when she callously commented on Stony Brook's official page condemning the actions of these hero cops who stopped an armed criminal and saved others from harm."

A "quick glance"at Hayward’s Twitter account shows "numerous anti-law enforcement posts including calls to defund the police," the association wrote.

"Stony Brook University must denounce Hayward's hateful comments and should put an end to the harmful anti-police bias in their program," the post continued. "Stony Brook University Medical Center's outstanding care performed a miracle in saving these police officers’ lives. It's shameful that Dr. Hayward would sully the reputation of the entire Stony Brook community with her anti-police rhetoric."

Stony Brook University issued the following statement: "We appreciate the members of law enforcement who work to keep our community safe and we are proud of our doctors at Stony Brook Medicine for the quality medical care they provided the injured officers; we wish them a speedy recovery. The comments made online were from what appears to be a faculty member's private account that is not affiliated with Stony Brook University."

Patch has reached out to Hayward for comment and will update when we hear back.

One of the officers suffered stab wounds to the clavicle, neck, and groin, while the other suffered wounds to the chest. The knife struck the second officer's rib, and he was treated at Stony Brook for treatment, Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said.

Another officer who responded was also treated for tinnitus and later released, while the officer whose stab wounds were not as serious was released last week. The third officer remains hospitalized and his condition was upgraded Monday from fair to good.