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Maybe the smartest thing Detectives Michael Oliver, Gescard Isnora and Marc Cooper ever did was opt for a bench trial instead of a jury trial.
If you're a cop, who is accused of excessive force, of using 50 shots because you think there is a threat of someone hitting you with a car outside a nightclub early on a Saturday morning, what you want to do is avoid people who you know would convict you of killing an unarmed man.
So you let the judge decide your fate. And guess what? Justice Arthur Cooperman is letting Oliver, Isnora and Cooper fly like the pigeons they are. Personally, I think it's wrong, but after Abner Louima, Amadou Diallo and a host of other less publicized egregious abuses of power, I'm not surprised and neither should you be. ...
But if you're Sean Bell, or any black man who lives in New York, the dumbest thing you can do is be a black man living in New York.
That's because if the wrong cops suspect you, and they feel there is reasonable cause to suspect you of having a weapon -- even if it turns out to be clear that you don't -- you don't get an eight-week trial. You don't get a lawyer to present evidence. You don't get witness and expert testimony, you don't get a media barrage.
No, if you're Bell, or a black man living in New York, or any municipality where rogue cops are allowed to roam freely, then justice for you is a bullet in your back. You don't even get to face your killer as he shoots you.
Again, none of this is to just put all cops on blast. Hell, there are a LOT of cops who are going to be mad about this.
In fact, police should be the ones most angry. Because now, the onus is on them to prove that they are trustworthy. They can no longer be seen as the victims in any case. People will feel that the police are the aggressors and the relationship between the community and the cops will be further soured.
So I won't feel sorry for because I've seen a lot of arrogant people on the NYPD force in action. But I've also seen some very good public servants on the force as well. They will be the ones who suffer this summer.
As for the lonely corner in Jamaica, Queens, which sits about 200 yards from the E train, there will be an uneasy marker for a man whose life was not worth much to three cops who thought shooting a man who was not doing anything wrong was the right thing to do.
More to come.
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Comments: (36)
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By: Lovey on 4/30/2008 10:56AM
I think the judge was very fair in this case. Last year the defendants tried to have the case dismissed and Judge Cooperman denied the request. Had the victims and witnesses been better human beings, perhaps the verdict would have been different. Let's be honest, we don't need more criminals running around this country and destroying everything our ancestors have fought and died for.
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By: Harry on 5/27/2008 8:00PM
Why don't we just give all the blacks whatever they want. We can let them rule the country for a bit. Everyone else can go live in Africa or wherever. Then in a few days when no one wants to work or do anything but sell drugs and kill each other, they will all want to come to Africa and live. Lazy bastards get a clue. I fear criminals more than cops, and not because I'm white, because 80% of you(minorities) are criminal. Figure it out. You usually repress yourselves. You can't blame me cause you can't get a job. When I went to school I learned, when you went you bitched that no one was teaching you. What a joke. When I got out I got a job. I worked hard. No I have a home and a wife and children. Work for what you want, stop blaming everyone else for your ineptitude to do something or be someone. Color has nothing to do with it. Your drive and motivation do. I'm so sick of hearing about how you can't get anywhere because "the man" won't let you. Look in the mirror, you'll see "the man" staring right back at you. I could go on forever over this and probably will, but this will never change.
Ghandi said, YOU must be the change you want to se in the world.
Live it.
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By: Harry on 5/27/2008 8:09PM
THE COPS WERE MINORITIES YOU FRIGGIN IDIOTS!!!!!
How do you call racism on the same color?
Would it still have ben racism if the perp was white or would it have been vindication?
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By: Pete Kaplan on 7/17/2008 2:04AM
This case is an example of a social dilemma. These three cops are cowards. And there are many more cops who are cowards just like they are. When someone is a coward it's like being mentally retarded, they can only do the best they can. You can't blame a retarded person for acting retarded. And you can't blame a coward for acting like a coward. The problem is law enforcement appeals to cowards. People who support these kinds of acts by police officers don't see them as cowards, they put themselves in their shoes and believe they would do the same thing. There are litterly 100's of thousands of people who are willing to become cops, but aren't given the opportunity because they don't meet the requirements.
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By: Pete Kaplan on 7/17/2008 2:03AM
33. THE COPS WERE MINORITIES YOU FRIGGIN IDIOTS!!!!!
How do you call racism on the same color?
Would it still have been racism if the perp was white or would it have been vindication?
Greetings,
By no means can you consider Cops a minority. They have more power than 99.9% of the people in the State. And Cops have a long history racism. It doesn't matter what color someone is once they become a Cop. They're afraid of Blacks just as much as any other cowards are.
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By: RaH on 7/21/2008 7:03PM
YO yall black ppls or sean bell dang at yall dont forget about 13th amendment act called empaptaion of right, remmy that yall still slave in the all of U.S even U.S consitution not relation for black slaver situation about missouri compromise 1820 to 1850 even forvever not freedoom yet until Ahrbham Lincoln did yall visit to lincoln's Hands status at DC ? too bad for ya behind since 300 years ago im appearing for ya so therefore I am Proud of DEAFNESS and BLack person , i didnt realized yall didnt study on black deaf history too darkness of lands coming first than sean hall. oh well american didnt tell ya truthness for first of america discovery of American school for the Deaf and Dumb and Ansmids case. if u need feedback each other then i do help to sean hall case over for his pity issue but nobody asked me for serious hmmm.... thank ya for alot by mention by deaf and dumb wait for Ownership of state...
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