An NYPD officer who stomped on an arrestee’s head nearly two years ago has lost his position as a police officer, but will not serve a jail sentence.
Joel Edouard, a 38-year-old, was sentenced by a Brooklyn court to serve two years of probation, although many were calling for him to serve at least two months behind bars.
DA Kenneth Thompson commented, “This police officer intentionally and needlessly stomped on the head of a suspect who had already been restrained by fellow officers. And he did so in broad daylight and in front of a crowd of people. He deserved to spend time in jail...”
Edouard was a ten-year veteran of the NYPD, and is a married father with three children. He was convicted of misdemeanor assault in April, and just received his sentencing of probation on Thursday.
The judge presiding over the case required that the Police Commissioner terminate Edouard, or Edouard would have to take the measure of resigning himself.
The victim who suffered injuries from Edouard, Jahmi-El Cuffee, was smoking a joint and drinking alcohol in public upon being arrested. While subdued and lying facedown, Cuffee had a gun pointed at him and the side of his head slammed into the pavement by Edouard.
The fact that the victim recovered and was compensated via civil judgment helped convince the judge that prison time was not needed.
