NY Islanders solicit funds for ex-NYPD Sergeant Erik Duran convicted of manslaughter
The donation QR code is displayed at UBS Arena during the Islanders' final game of the season on Tuesday. Credit: New York Post
During their final game of the season Tuesday night, the New York Islanders shared an NYPD union's message on their scoreboard asking fans to donate to the legal defense fund of a sergeant convicted of manslaughter for throwing a cooler and killing a fleeing suspect on a motorized scooter.
The Islanders displayed a QR code on the Jumbotron allowing fans to donate to the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association’s defense fund for former NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran. The team also said it would donate a portion of its 50/50 raffle to the SBA.
"Support New York’s Sergeants Benevolent Association in its fight for justice for NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran," the arena scoreboard said.
The Islanders have supported a variety of causes and charities at games and in the community, through the team's Hockey with a Heart foundation.
The team declined to comment on the scoreboard message.
SBA President Vincent Vallelong said the Islanders offered to connect with the police union to support Duran by donating about 25% of the 50/50 raffle proceeds. He said following Duran's conviction, the union can no longer provide legal services but can set up a fund for others to contribute to help defray expenses.
"The Islanders called and wanted to set up something and give up a certain amount of the proceeds from the game," Vallelong said. "The place went crazy when that was announced."
Duran, 38, was sentenced last week to 3 to 9 years in prison for the 2023 death of Eric Duprey, 30, who tried to flee on the scooter after police said he was selling drugs to an undercover officer in the Bronx.
Prosecutors with the state attorney general’s office showed surveillance footage during a bench trial in front of Judge Guy Mitchell that depicted Duprey driving the scooter toward a group of people when Duran, who was in plain clothes, picked up a cooler full of drinks and threw it at Duprey, striking him.
Duprey died after crashing his scooter into a tree.
The judge rejected Duran's defense that he did not have time to warn other officers and bystanders as Dupree approached on the scooter. The judge found Duran guilty of second-degree manslaughter in February. He was sentenced to prison last week.
Attorney General Letitia James’ office had sought between 5 and 15 years in prison. Duran was taken into custody and his attorney is seeking bail.
"I never wanted this to happen," Duran told Duprey's family before the sentencing.
The SBA said the union is partnering with the National Police Defense Foundation to support Duran’s appeal and to solicit donations.
"Let’s show the nation that law enforcement officers support one another, especially when our justice system fails them," the SBA said on its fundraising page.
Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky was seen in the New York Post posing with the SBA president holding a copy of the newspaper with a headline about Duran reading: "Jailed For Doing His Job."
Long Island civil rights attorney Frederick K. Brewington said Duran and other police officers who commit misconduct should be held accountable for their actions.
"This was not a police officer doing his job," Brewington said. "Using a level of violence and excessive force is well beyond doing his job. This does a disservice to all police officers who would not have done that and taken that life."
Brewington said an Islanders game was not an appropriate venue to promote the legal defense fund. He said the Islanders should do more to address social justice causes in the community.
"If the Islanders want to engage in the public debate of taking this life, they need to stop playing hockey and run for office," Brewington said. "They need to engage in societal concerns that impact all communities. They need to address what’s going on in society to talk about what creates a set of circumstances that makes our society better."
Newsday's Anthony M. DeStefano and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
