Maia Nehme, Contributing Photographer

A New Haven police officer charged in the June 2022 paralysis of Randy Cox is back on the force. 

During a Wednesday press conference, New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson explained that Officer Oscar Diaz was reinstated as a city police officer on Jan. 13, a year and a half after the New Haven Board of Police Commissioners voted to fire him over his role in the Cox incident.

Diaz and four fellow New Haven police officers arrested Cox on June 19, 2022. While driving Cox to the 1 Union Ave. police headquarters, Diaz, who was speeding, braked hard to avoid a car crash. Cox slammed head-first against the back of the police vehicle, which did not have seatbelts.

Instead of waiting for an ambulance to arrive, Diaz brought Cox to the police station. A supervisor berated Cox, accusing him of faking his injuries, and then dragged him out of the van and into a holding cell, according to New Haven Police Department body camera footage. 

Cox is now paralyzed from the chest down. He sued Diaz, the four other police officers and the city of New Haven in 2022 and settled for $45 million, the largest ever settlement in a U.S. police misconduct case.

On Jan. 19, 2024, the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration ruled that Diaz was not responsible for Cox’s paralysis and voted to overturn his firing. Though New Haven officials challenged the board’s verdict, their appeal to the State Superior Court was denied.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Jacobson and Mayor Justin Elicker stressed their support for the Board of Police Commissioners’ decision to fire Diaz. 

“We’re required to bring officer Diaz back and reinstate him as a police officer,” Elicker said. “That is something that we don’t have a choice in. And while we stand by our initial decision [to fire him], it is what it is.”

The state board that overturned Diaz’s firing recommended a 15-day unpaid suspension. Jacobson confirmed that Diaz will receive back pay for the past year and a half.

Elicker acknowledged that Cox’s family was likely “frustrated” by Diaz’s reinstatement. He said he connected with Cox’s sister earlier Wednesday, who told him Cox was doing well.

Jacobson noted that Diaz still needs to complete background checks, a lie detector test, psychological exams and multiple police trainings before he is assigned in the field again. Diaz will likely be restored to his position in the NHPD’s motor unit, which is tasked with traffic enforcement, according to Jacobson.

“He was an exemplary officer prior to that incident, and we’re going to do everything possible to bring him back and get going,” Jacobson said.

Diaz is charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and negligent cruelty in connection with Cox’s paralysis; his next court hearing is on Thursday.