NYPD Cops acquitted after firing 50 shots at an unarmed man, killing him

[mat1583]

I'm not sure if we'll ever know the full details of the story since it was basically 3 NYPD cops vs. 3, maybe 4 'thugs'. Either way, over 50 shots were fired at the men. One was killed, one hit 19 times, and the other hit 3 times. All of the men were unarmed, although the police report says that the driver of the vehicle, Sean Bell, accelerated the car and hit one of the officers (which they say is the reason they opened fire). The thing that got under my skin is that they requested to have the judge decide the case...not a jury. In other words, they were afraid of being convicted by a jury, so they had a judge who was afraid of making the cops look bad decide the case.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/25/sean.bell.trial/index.html

Any thoughts?

-washboard

[WeaselInYerFoot]

Witnesses said that about 4 a.m., closing time, as Bell and his friends left the club, an argument broke out. Believing that one of Bell's friends, Joseph Guzman, was going to get a gun from Bell's car, one of the undercover detectives followed the men and called for backup.

What happened next was at the heart of the trial, prosecuted by the assistant district attorney in Queens.


So... one of the undercover detectives is worried that Guzman was going to the car to get a gun. That could happen. I can understand that, but what baffles me is the next paragraph....


Bell, Guzman and Trent Benefield got into the car, with Bell at the wheel. The detectives drew their weapons, said Guzman and Benefield, who testified that they never heard the plainclothes detectives identify themselves as police.


If you're going to the car to get a gun, why the heck do you need your other "thugs" to get in the car with you? What can possibly make a detective think that someone getting into their car with 2 other friends and appear to be leaving the parking lot mean that he's actually going to get a gun? These detectives had no reason to pull their guns out in the first place.

[blacksheep]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080426/D909P8SG0.html

Typical that Al Sharpton would become involved in this.

If they had only shot him 8 times, do you think there would be such an outcry?

[mat1583]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080426/D909P8SG0.html

Typical that Al Sharpton would become involved in this.

If they had only shot him 8 times, do you think there would be such an outcry?

I thought it was rather ironic that the race of the three cops that were charged were black, mixed black/hispanic, and white. They were all over the spectrum.

Reports are saying that the judge decided the way he did simply because he didn't believe the stories of the groom's friends. In other words, it was whatever the cops said vs. what his friends said...and who do you think the judge would side with?

This is just speculation, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few riots before this whole thing is over.

-washboard

[Evanescence]

I was in NYC this past weekend...sure am glad that no violence erupted...

[Valpo]

I was in NYC this past weekend...sure am glad that no violence erupted...

What were you doin in the city? (curiosity)

[phil_ur_friend]

I will start by saying that I am not generalizing here-

Is it just me that's noticed or experienced this?
People that (for whatever reason) have purposed in their heart (at an early age, alot of the times) that they are tired of having other people impose authority on them, or push them around-
will decide to obtain a position of power that is almost immune to any type of possible opposition
i.e. (a judge)

I personally know some amazingly genuine men in law enforcement-

I unfortunately know, on the other hand, many more shady characters who have even told me personally (with a snicker, or a grin) that they could get away with whatever they want, "I mean, I am the law." "Just who is going to tell me what to do?"
That kind of thing.

Unfortunately, -To serve and protect-
is seen alot less these days than
-To serve (my own purpose) and protect (my own a$$)-

Phil, your friend ;)

[NotMyOwn]

Cops are definitely out of control in alot of areas of the country. This type of conduct reflects badly on the cops that are doing their jobs correctly.

[mat1583]

OK, I'm really not trying to bash police officers. I know they have a tough job. I have known a few personally, and most of them are good people. This just makes me sick, though:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4758317

State troopers are defending their buddy for kicking and beating a K9 dog. If you watch the video, they are defending the beating, kicking, tazing, and general abuse of their K9 dogs. If you listen to them, it sounds more like a group of dog fight trainers than police officers. I'm glad that in this case, the abuse was not tolerated. Ugh!

-washboard

[Evanescence]

What were you doin in the city? (curiosity)

Govt coverup convention...






J/K....script writing workshop.....

:cool: