A Connecticut judge has dismissed charges against three New Haven police officers accused of mistreating Richard “Randy” Cox, a man who was left paralyzed after a 2022 police van transport in which he was not restrained. The decision, handed down on February 13, 2026, granted the officers entry into a probation program that can erase the charges from their records. According to reporting by the Associated Press in CT Insider, prosecutors and Cox did not object to the dismissal, though New Haven city officials publicly disagreed with the ruling.

Cox, 40, suffered a broken neck and paralysis from the chest down after the police van transporting him braked suddenly. The van was not equipped with seat belts for prisoners, and video evidence later showed officers mocking Cox, accusing him of faking his injuries, and dragging him through the station despite his repeated statements that he could not move. The incident led to statewide reforms in Connecticut, including a mandated seat belt requirement for detainee transport and changes within the New Haven Police Department.

Two other officers previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment and received suspended sentences, as reported by AP News in this coverage. New Haven ultimately settled with Cox for $45 million in 2023. While some of the fired officers have successfully appealed their terminations, others continue to contest their dismissals.

The case drew comparisons to the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, a reminder that transport-related injuries—particularly involving unsecured detainees—remain a recurring and nationally scrutinized issue. Civil rights groups, including the NAACP, have closely monitored the Cox case, citing its alignment with long-standing concerns about detainee treatment and police accountability.

While the events occurred across the country, the implications resonate locally. Police departments in Longview, Kelso, and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office all maintain transport protocols that rely on proper vehicle restraints, officer training, and adherence to safety standards. As Connecticut lawmakers moved to mandate transport seat belts statewide, jurisdictions nationwide have faced renewed pressure to audit their own practices. Incidents involving unrestrained detainees or inadequate medical response pose not only liability risks but deep public‑trust consequences.

No comparable case has recently surfaced in Cowlitz County, but the Cox ruling underscores how quickly routine procedures—such as vehicle transport—can become high‑stakes moments with life‑altering outcomes. The decision also signals how courts may treat officers’ conduct when systemic or equipment failures are acknowledged alongside individual actions.

As local agencies continue modernizing equipment and updating training requirements, national cases like Cox’s present a clear point of comparison: how policy gaps, even in everyday procedures, can escalate into catastrophic harm. Whether Washington lawmakers or county-level policymakers will revisit transport standards in response to this renewed national attention remains to be seen.