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In this frame taken from police body camera video, Richard Cox, center, is placed in a wheel chair after being pulled from the back of a police van after being detained by New Haven Police, June 19, 2022, in New Haven, Conn. Officials in Connecticut said, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, that two New Haven officers have been placed on paid leave and three others were reassigned after Cox was seriously injured in the back of a police van. (New Haven Police via AP)
ne062222cox In this still shot taken from police video, Richard Cox is seen lying on the floor of a police van.
In this frame taken from police body camera video, Richard Cox, center, is placed in a wheel chair after being pulled from the back of a police van after being detained by New Haven Police, June 19, 2022, in New Haven, Conn. Officials in Connecticut said, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, that two New Haven officers have been placed on paid leave and three others were reassigned after Cox was seriously injured in the back of a police van. (New Haven Police via AP)
NEW HAVEN — The city placed three more officers on leave Thursday as the investigation continues into the department’s handling of Richard Cox, a local man injured and potentially paralyzed after being taken into custody and transported in a police van last weekend.
Officers Ronald Pressley, Jocelyn Lavandier and Luis Rivera have been placed on paid administrative leave, officials announced Thursday. All three “were all present in the Detention Facility and were involved in the handling” of Cox, New Haven officials said.
After reviewing video of the incident, Acting Police Chief Regina Rush-Kittle said all of the officers involved in Cox’s arrest and transport should be “placed on administrative leave for potential breaches of police protocol.”
“The handling of Mr. Cox was unacceptable; it does not reflect the high standards we hold ourselves to at the New Haven Police Department. The department remains committed to doing everything in our power to make sure an incident of this nature never happens again,” Rush-Kittle said.
Mayor Justin Elicker offered his “strong” support for the decision, describing the department’s efforts in incarcerating Cox as “completely unacceptable.”
“Anyone that comes into custody of the New Haven Police Department should be treated with dignity and respect and cared for in a manner than ensures their safety and well-being. In my judgment, the actions of the officers involved in this incident fell far short of that,” Elicker said.
Cox, 36, was injured and possibly paralyzed Sunday when he was being brought to the police lockup in a van that had straps for him to hold on to while handcuffed, but no seat belt.
According to videos released by police, he lay down on the floor and repeatedly kicked the rear door of the van, then sat back on a bench along the side of the van.
When Officer Oscar Diaz hit the brakes hard to avoid an accident, Cox fell and hit his head on the front of the van, apparently becoming paralyzed.
Elicker said the police were traveling 36 mph in a 25 mph zone at the time.
Diaz and Sgt. Betsy Segui, who told Cox to move his arm and leg and to roll onto his back after he arrived at the detention facility, were previously placed on paid administrative leave earlier this week.
Elicker and Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson both expressed concern about how the officers handled the situation.
Jacobson said Tuesday that, under standard protocol, city police are required to wait for a medical unit if a prisoner is in medical distress.
State police are leading the investigation into Cox’s arrest and subsequent treatment.
“We understand how impacted an event like this can be for everybody involved. It is a high priority for us,” Brian Foley, spokesperson for the state police, said Thursday. “We are working closely with the state’s attorney’s office. The investigation is active and open.”
The city is planning to require all prisoners to be wearing a seat belt when being transported, whether in a cruiser or a van, according to Elicker.
New Haven has three transport vans, one of which has seat belts. A second had them installed Tuesday, police said. The third has been taken out of service until seat belts are installed.
Staff writer Ed Stannard contributed to this story.
Ben Lambert covers police and public safety for the Register. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, he has worked on the behalf of the Valley Advocate, MassLive, The Register Citizen, and now, the New Haven Register. He spends far too much time thinking about the Boston Celtics.