Dear Fellow Sergeant,

In a shocking verdict on February 6th, Sgt. Erik Duran was found guilty of manslaughter for an on-duty incident that occurred while he was taking appropriate police action in August of 2023.

We are deeply disappointed by Judge Guy Mitchell’s decision after a bench trial in the Bronx.

His verdict was clearly in contrast to the weight of the credible evidence presented throughout the trial.

Outrageous verdicts, such as this one, sends a terrible message to hard-working cops everywhere:
Should you use force to defend yourself, your fellow officers, or the citizens of the City, no matter how justified your actions, you risk being publicly vilified and convicted of scurrilous charges that were brought for no other reason than than the reckless pursuit of political ideology and expediency.

We vigorously maintain Sgt. Duran’s innocence.

Our attorneys are reviewing all legal options and we will fight tirelessly to overturn this egregious verdict.

Please keep Sgt. Duran in your thoughts and prayers and know that the SBA’s fight for his freedom and his total exoneration is far from over.

Fraternally,

Vincent J. Vallelong
President
Sergeants Benevolent Association