Nearly 11,000 Officers Urge No Prison Sentence for NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — Nearly 11,000 current and former law enforcement officers have signed a petition urging a judge not to impose prison time for NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran following his manslaughter conviction, according to reports.

Duran, 38, was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter in the death of Eric Duprey, 30, after an August 2023 incident in the Bronx. The case was decided by a judge in a bench trial.

According to prosecutors, Duran threw a cooler at Duprey while he was riding a motorized scooter, causing a crash that led to fatal injuries. Duran testified during the trial that he believed Duprey posed a threat at the time.

The petition, signed by officers from multiple agencies, argues that Duran should not face incarceration, stating that officers often must make split-second decisions in dangerous and unpredictable situations.

Prosecutors have maintained that Duran’s actions were reckless and unnecessary.

Duran faces up to 15 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced in Bronx Criminal Court. The case was prosecuted by the New York State Attorney General’s Office, which handles certain cases involving deaths during police encounters.