Sports fans rally behind jailed cooler-throwing NYPD cop

Islanders fans expressed their support for the jailed “cooler cop” on Tuesday during the team’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Former NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran received support at the game after the NYPD’s Sergeants Benevolent Association pushed a fundraising ad that appeared on the jumbotron at UBS Arena. Duran was convicted of manslaughter after throwing a cooler at a fleeing suspect allegedly involved in a “buy and bust” drug operation. The cooler struck the suspect, who was attempting to leave the scene on a scooter, causing a fatal accident.

Look:

Islanders fans rally behind jailed ‘cooler cop’ Erik Duran after launch of defense legal fund https://t.co/4tJuxAfjgD pic.twitter.com/3Lk4f6VMws

— New York Post (@nypost) April 15, 2026

Vincent Vallelong, “who was joined at the game by Post executive Patrick Judge, Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky and other SBA members,” according to the New York Post, says it’s “all about Erik’s family.”

“Whatever it takes to get him out, is exactly what it is everyone on this board believes, and everybody in law enforcement is going to do at this point. The message is that basically, this is going to affect law enforcement across the nation. They all feel that this can happen in their cities,” he added.

Those interested in giving to the former police officer’s defense were urged to use the on-screen QR code to donate, and as of Tuesday morning, a whopping $40k had been donated. Craig Kasin, a Nassau officer, praised the support from the Islanders.

“I absolutely love that the Islanders support law enforcement, especially in this case,” he said, adding that the act of throwing the cooler was an “instinct decision.”

“He didn’t take out his gun and shoot him … it’s deplorable that this judge is sentencing him to more time to set an example. These officers are under such a tremendous amount of stress to begin with. This isn’t right.”

Duran is facing at least three years behind bars for his actions.

“Duran testified in his own defense at the 3-week trial — a case brought by the state Attorney General’s Office — that he chucked the cooler to protect the lives of other cops in the path of the suspect’s scooter,” the Post reported.

“Duran, who faced anywhere from probation to up to 15 years in prison, was hauled off to Rikers Island, where he is being held in protective custody and expected to be transferred to a state facility,” the outlet added.

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