Two officers fired over treatment of man who became paralyzed in police van after 2022 arrest

The City of New Haven, Connecticut, fired two police officers Wednesday for what authorities called their reckless actions and lack of compassion toward Richard "Randy" Cox, who was injured and became paralyzed in the back of a police van after his arrest last year.

City police commissioners voted to dismiss Jocelyn Lavandier and Luis Rivera for violating officer conduct rules on following the law, integrity, trustworthiness, courtesy and respect. The two officers and three others also face criminal charges.

Four of the six commissioners voted in favor of the terminations while two abstained, which Commission Chair Evelise Ribeiro said was likely because they didn't attend hearings on the matter. The body also postponed a vote on whether to fire two other officers involved in Cox's detention.