A former New York Police Department sergeant has been sentenced to three to nine years in prison for manslaughter in connection with the 2023 death of a man on a motorized scooter.

Erik Duran, 38, was convicted for throwing a picnic cooler filled with ice and drinks at 30-year-old Eric Duprey, who was fleeing on his scooter. Duprey subsequently crashed and died from his injuries. The incident occurred in 2023 during what appeared to be a pursuit situation.

Duran testified that he threw the cooler because he believed he was protecting other officers from the approaching scooter. However, the court found him guilty of manslaughter in connection with Duprey's death.

The sentencing marks a significant development in police accountability, as Duran is reportedly the first former NYPD officer to be sentenced to prison for an on-duty death in at least two decades.

Duran is currently being held at Rikers Island and is expected to be transferred to a state prison facility where he will serve his sentence. His legal team is pursuing an appeal of the conviction.

The case has drawn attention from law enforcement circles, with some police officials and experts criticizing the sentence as excessive for the circumstances involved.