I know the story..and I know the area where this occured WELL.We have a business near by. It is the community that asked..and pleaded with police to do something about the crap hole after hours den of prostituion and drugs, that was effecting the quality of life in their neighborhood. It was an undercover investigation in which one of the detectives overheard one of the suspects reference "getting his gun" when he was speaking with another patron of this fine establishment. Sean Bell and his buddies were no angels. They weren't at Hooters for a bachelor party. They were in this crap hole hours before he was going to be married. Am I the only one that finds that a little strange? Granted, while not very admirable behavior, I would certainly agree that you don't deserve to die for being scummy. Only let's be clear on where and how it happened. You or I wouldn't walk the streets in the dead of night in this area. It's dangerous. These cops..one of whichi is Hispanic, the other African American, and the other white, shot at this car, after it repeatidly hit an undercover police car. Not once..but again and again. I might add that their Luietenant..who was in charge of the operation was not charged..because he was hiding while the shots were being fired. HE was in charge of this operation, but because he didn't fire his gun..he was not charged. Their were 50 shots fired. 50 shots DID NOT hit Sean Bell. Out of three officers 50 shots were fired. They feared for their lives. Now you may hear Mayor Mike and the Commish..who wants to run for mayor, say how they are trained to shoot and re-evaluate. THEY will NEVER face a situation like that these officers faced. They won't find themselves on the streets doing that job for that money. You bet those guys emptied their guns..because they wanted to go home that night to THIER kids. No cop wants to have to face the ramifications of having made a split second decision to use their gun and have the decision turned around and used against them as police brutality. This is WAY different than the Abner Louima case, where police brutality was horrendous. This was a situation where these men were "on the job"...doing what the community asked them to do. Doing THEIR jobs. THis was a situation in which they felt their lives were in danger. I believe that mistakes were made..and that procedures can and should be evaluated. Only it was not an intentional act to kill Sean Bell. I think you can see the look on the detectives face(who is also African American) who apologized to the Bell family. You can see the pain in that man's face, and hear the remorse in his voice. They stood before a judge..a judge who had no horse in this race. This judge has in the past sent police officers to jail. The prosecution presented witness after witness whose recollections and stories of the incident changed depending on who they talked to. They also have ulterior motives in regards to lawsuits against the city. They aren't in it for justice for Sean Bell, they're in this for the bucks they can get out of a law suit. It's all VERY sad. A young man who made an incredibly poor choice..is dead. Three police officers who were doing their job, are dragged through the mud. Their lives forever changed. The NYPD has more officers jumping ship..because they DON"T want the job any longer. These officers were hung out to dry by both their Commisiner and Mayor and portrayed as evil murderers by the media. Officers are watching this..and they are leaving. Did you know to be an officer for the NYPD you need to have an Associates degree...where as none of the surrounding boroughs require this. 90 percent of the applicants to the Port Authority academy were former NYPD..Why do you think that is. Qualified officers are leaving...they don't have the support of the people of NY or their superiors. All of the surrounding boroughs pay three times what NYPD pays. Who exactly is going to be doing this job? They had to give food stamps to the last graduating class, because they don't make enough to get through the academy. While Rev. Al is closing down the city...he should think of who the people of this city are going to call when they need help, and who exactly is going to show up. No one really qualified, is going to be sticking around.
Excellent thoughts......
