The incident occurred on August 23, when Duran was part of a narcotics policing unit conducting a buy-and-bust operation in the Bronx. According to Duran, he was trying to protect other officers from the approaching scooter, but Judge Guy Mitchell concluded that Duran hurled the cooler because he was upset that Eric Duprey, 30, was getting away. The exact nature of the operation and the specific injuries Duprey sustained in the crash, along with the official cause of death, have not been publicly detailed.
Prosecutors with state attorney general Letitia James' office sought the sentence of three to nine years, which the judge imposed. Prosecutor Joseph Bianco said the ex-sergeant recklessly caused Duprey's death and attempted to cover up his actions, though the specific evidence supporting the cover-up claim remains unclear. Duran was immediately taken into custody after sentencing.
There are no words to express what I feel.
Defense lawyer Andrew Quinn argued for no prison time, calling Duprey's death the unintended and tragic consequences of a reckless decision Duran made in a span of two and a half seconds. Duran's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said he will ask a court to free Duran on bail while he appeals, but the grounds for the appeal and when the bail request will be heard have not been specified.
Duprey's mother, Gretchen Soto, and partner, Pearl Velez, said they did not accept Duran's apology. They expressed ongoing grief over the loss, though further details of their statements were not provided.
How you gonna say sorry now?
Duran's union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said thousands of officers signed an online petition calling for him to be spared prison, though the current status and exact number of signatures are unknown. The union has voiced support for Duran, but specific comments from union representatives have not been disclosed.
He is now the cooler cop.