Cop Who Stomped on Man in Bed-Stuy is Suspended, but Still on Force

Pictured: Joel Edouard, left, stomping on the head of Jahmi-El Cuffee. Image via amateur video.

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — The NYPD can't fire officer Joel Edouard until he receives a department trial, the force said Wednesday.

An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that Edouard has been suspended pending the results of that trial.

In July, 2014, Edouard, 38, was part of a group of officers who arrested Jahmi-El Cuffee, 32, outside 223 Malcolm X Blvd. in Bed-Stuy.

Cuffee had allegedly been drinking and smoking marijuana, according to an account of the arrest provided by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office

A video recorded by a pedestrian showed Edouard wrestling with Cuffee, who repeatedly called out for help. After back-up officers arrived, Edouard walked away from the scene, then returned and appeared to stomp once on Cuffee's head.

Edouard was found guilty of a misdemeanor assault in April, and sentenced to two years probation last week.

As part of the sentencing, Edouard was required to be fired by the NYPD within 24 hours if he didn't resign first.

But Edouard didn't resign, the NYPD confirmed Wednesday.

At a press conference, Lawrence Byrne, the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters, said the department's rules don't allow it to fire an officer within 24 hours.

Instead, Edouard is entitled to a department trial first. Byrne added that the NYPD would have fired Edouard if it had the legal authority to do so.

A police spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for information on when Edouard's trial will take place.