Over a year ago an UNARMED queens man was the victim of the overzealous tactics of the NYC police department. 23 year old Sean Bell, accompanied by two aquaintences were leaving a bar/club when undercover officers collided with his vehicle and then opened fire on the vehicle firing over 50 rounds.
Mr. Bell, who was leaving his own bachelor party, had planned to wed his fiance less than 12 hours after the incident, but was prenounced dead in the early morning of his wedding day.
Finally the officers, after an extensive internal investigation, are up for trial for MURDER.
the key points from the prosecutions stand-point is that there was no CLEAR warning, by the UNDERCOVER officers that they were the POLICE. Also the three officers on trial, had time to reload their wepons and fire more bullets. WHY?
after hearing testimonies from several people at the club that night, it seems obvious that the undercover detectives for ONE assumed Bell was a different man, took part in a RAMBO-esque seige, by smashing their mini-van into his nissan altima, then opening fire without proper POLICE warning.
Also, witnesses testified that, at one point the shooting had stopped, and they thought it was over, then shots began AGAIN.
Now i understand that being a NYC police officer is a dangerous job, but to kill a man in cold blood because you ASSUMED he was an armed drug dealer is senseless. First, because the principal job of a police officer is to be "Justice of the Peace". That means handling your job in the most peaceful manner. NOT ENDANGERING US CITIZENS BY FIRING 50 SHOTS AT 3 PEOPLE IN FRONT OF A CROWDED NIGHT CLUB.
Secondly, to stop and reload your wepons clearly shows that you are more concerned with your own well being, than the well being of the citizens, for whom you SWORE TO PROTECT.
Finally, I want to say this is by no-means a HATE BLOG. I love the job that a police officer is supposed to do. However, i feel that if you are to scared to effectively & safely do your job, then it is your responsibility to either QUIT or to ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY for you actions.
I.E. MURDER!
for more information on the Sean Bell case check out this New York Times breakdown of the trial so-far.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/02/26/nyregion/20080226_BELL_GRA...
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1 cop fired more rounds in total than was in his first round of ammunition. A deal of the firing was after the initial shots when Bell and co. got in their car and drove it at the cops.
And, of course, the thing that's always left out. The people were leaving a strip club that was under investigation for prostitution.
And all of the cops are being tried. I say try the one who fired something like 30 bullets. Put him up for excessive force resulting in death. But the others? I think it was 18, 4 and 1. All but the 1 cop is up for something. I don't know. Maybe try 18 for reckless endangerment...
Oh, and then there was the outrage when the cops' lawyers wanted to have a trial upstate. Of course, why did they want that? Because people had so publicized the case and so demonized all of the officers that there's very little probability of a fair trial.
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
if you read the witness testimony....one of the strippers who was following their car said that the mini-van crashed into their car to stop them
Still, driving your car into cops....
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
you have to be less vague
My point was that it wasn't the smartest thing to do.
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
Mr. Bell's altima did NOT crash into the police. It was the other way around.
IF you read the testimony, the police mistook Bell for a drug dealer who was also under survaillence that night, in addition to the club/strippers/prostitutes.
I shall look into that at a time when I am less dead (tired). However, even if that is the case, I still think the only guy who should be charged is the 36 bullet guy.
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
ALL THREE OFFICERS FOUND NOT GUILTY!!!!
What a crock of shit.
"my first name must be, "He aint sh@t", cause everytime I come through, yall be like "He aint sh@t"!....I'll be dat" --Redman
"Anything that can go wrong, Will go wrong"----Murphy's Law
And, I know its not much, but the hope for at least some justice is still on the table...
Justice Department to Review the Shooting of Sean Bell and Others
TTFN,
Blackout
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Yes, I've changed my username from "percivale" to "Blackout." Go here if you want to know why.
I mean if these guys dont go to jail, then they should no longer be cops. There has to be consequences for taking a human life.
I've heard the thoughts of some people who feel that the verdict was just. They mainly say that a police officers job is dangerous, and that in the heat of undercover work mistakes can happen. What about the soldiers in Iraq? They also have to follow a strict code of rules when it comes to engaging the enemy. You cannot just kill unarmed civilians, then sweep it under the rug.
"my first name must be, "He aint sh@t", cause everytime I come through, yall be like "He aint sh@t"!....I'll be dat" --Redman
"Anything that can go wrong, Will go wrong"----Murphy's Law
Agreed. I think that the cops who fired a significant amount of shots should have gotten Reckless Endangerment, or excessive force or something.
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson