Two officers involved in case that paralyzed New Haven man fired

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WFSB) - The New Haven Police Commission has fired at least 2 of the officers involved in the Randy Cox case.

Five officers were arrested and charged after Cox was paralyzed in a police transport van in 2022.

Cox had been arrested. He was being transported to the police station, handcuffed in a police van, when the driver stopped short.

Cox went flying headfirst into the back of the van. He is now paralyzed from the chest down.

Cox told the 5 officers he couldn’t move, saying he thought his neck was broken.

Video shows him being pulled out of the van by his feet. He was processed in a wheel chair and dragged to a holding cell.

“That completely blows my mind, that completely blows my mind. I don’t even have comments about that because no words come to mind,” said Kriss Santala, New Haven.

Tonight, Officer Jocelyn Lavandier was terminated, as was Officer Luis Rivera.

A decision on the position of two officers, Sergeant Betsy Segui and Officer Oscar Diaz, was tabled until June 28th.

A fifth officer retired and was not part of these decisions.

All five are facing charges of reckless endangerment and cruelty to persons, both misdemeanors.

“I don’t think they should ever become legal officers ever again,” said Kriss.

“The chief and his team did a very thorough process in evaluating what occurred and analyzing the policies as a police department, made a determination that the officers’ violations were significant enough to merit termination and the police commission followed those recommendations,” added Mayor Justin Elicker.

Tonight’s action comes months after New Haven’s police chief recommended the officers be fired.

On Friday there will be a settlement conference with Cox’s attorneys.

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