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The New York Islanders have found themselves at the center of controversy following a jumbotron promotion during their recent game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The promotion called on fans to donate to the legal defense of Erik Duran, a former New York City police sergeant who was recently convicted of manslaughter.
Duran, who was sentenced last week to a prison term of three to nine years, was found guilty of causing the death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey after throwing a cooler of ice at him during an attempted arrest. The jumbotron display featured a photograph of Duran alongside a QR code, enabling fans to directly contribute to his legal fund. It also included a message from the Sergeants Benevolent Association urging fans to support what they described as a “fight for justice.”
Additionally, the union stated that the team would allocate 25% of the proceeds from a 50/50 raffle to support Duran’s case. Vincent Vallelong, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, explained that the initiative was sparked by a suggestion from a source at The New York Post, who indicated that the Islanders were looking to assist Duran.
The Islanders have opted not to comment on the situation, and attempts to contact The New York Post for a statement have gone unanswered.
A spokesperson for the Islanders declined to comment. An emailed inquiry to The Post was not returned.
An attorney for Duprey’s family, Jon Roberts, said they were “deeply troubled by the decision of the New York Islanders to align themselves, even symbolically, with efforts that appear to support Sgt. Duran’s legal defense.”
“This was not a neutral act,” Roberts’ statement continued. “It sends a message — intended or not — that risks undermining public confidence in a fair legal process and deepens the pain of a family still grieving.”
The NHL did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
Duprey’s death came as Duran and other narcotics officers were carrying out an undercover drug bust in the Bronx in 2023.
Surveillance footage showed Duran lifting a bystander’s cooler full of drinks and ice and throwing it at Duprey as he attempted to flee on a motorized scooter. The impact of the cooler caused him to crash into a tree, and he died almost instantly.
The former sergeant’s conviction in February drew fierce protests from police officers and their supporters, who argued it would discourage officers from doing their jobs and hurt public safety. It is the first time in at least two decades that an NYPD officer will spend time in prison for an on-duty death. His attorney has said he will appeal the sentence.
Vallelong, the union president, said the chance to raise money for Duran at a professional hockey game “came out of left field.”
Photographs published by The New York Post show Vallelong posing with the Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky and newspaper executive Pat Judge inside the team’s stadium, which is on Long Island.
Vallelong said “the arena blew up into applause” when Duran’s photograph appeared on the video screen. He dismissed criticism of the hockey team’s decision to solicit donations.
“They’re a private organization. They can do whatever they want,” he said of the Islanders, likening the promotion to celebrations of the military common in professional sports.
Vallelong declined to say how much money was raised for the legal defense fund. The 50/50 raffle took in $44,890, according to the Islander’s website.
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