A former Aurora police officer was sentenced to 18 months in prison for criminally negligent homicide in the death of 44-year-old Elias Anderson, who was killed when the officer crashed into him while responding to a non-emergency call in his patrol vehicle.
Eduardo Landeros, 26, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in August for the fatal crash at the intersection of South Chambers Road and East Bates Avenue in March.
According to previous reporting, Landeros was driving north on South Chambers Road in his patrol vehicle at a speed of more than 100 mph while responding to a call about the front door of a vacant residence that was kicked open. His overhead lights were not activated.
Landeros crashed into the car driven by Anderson at the intersection of South Chambers Road and East Bates Avenue.
Anderson was driving eastbound at approximately 18 mph when the crash occurred, according to previous reports. Landeros’ speed was estimated at 88 to 98 mph at the time of impact.
Both Landeros and Anderson were seriously injured in the crash, and Anderson died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Landeros resigned from the Aurora Police Department on April 25.
In addition to 18 months in prison, Landeros was sentenced to two years of parole and will pay restitution to Anderson’s family, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
In a statement, Senior Deputy District Attorney Michael Mauro said the sentence is an appropriate and just disposition.
“This defendant’s inexcusable recklessness took the life of an Aurora citizen — one of the very people the defendant had sworn to protect,” Mauro said. “This was a completely avoidable tragedy. Consistent with our approach in cases involving similar misconduct, we sought a prison sentence to punish and deter such behavior.”
There is no prison sentence that will bring Anderson back to his children and family, said Ciara Anderson, an attorney with the firm Rathod Mohamedbhai representing Elias Anderson’s family.
“As the court acknowledged today, Mr. Anderson’s family was sentenced to a life without him,” she said.
Elias Anderson’s loved ones have described him as a talented author and devoted and loving father, son, sibling and friend who was the funniest person in the room.
His family still does not have answers as to why Landeros chose to act so recklessly and put so many people in harm’s way, Ciara Anderson said.
“The family does commend the district attorney and court for recognizing Landeros needed to be held accountable for his actions and for pursuing justice for their family,” she said. “Despite being a police officer, this is someone who recklessly caused their loved one to die and needed to be punished.”
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