A former police officer reflects on the killing of Sean Bell

Incredulous, unbelievable, unreal and surreal were a few of the thoughts, I am able to place in print, that fleet through my mind as I listened to the verdict handed down by Judge Arthur Cooperman on Friday, April 25, 2008, in a Queens courtroom in New York City. The previous evening when discussing the case with friends and relatives, some who are current police officers said the officers would not be found guilty, but would walk. I guess my naiveté and belief in the judicial system, in this case, gave me hope that the jurist would give the family some justice. As a man who is a descendant of the African Diaspora, this verdict reinforces the adage that there is a war on black males, as well as others of color in the streets of the city and the wider country.

It appears that some officers are trying to see just how many shots they can fire at an individual and kill and/or wound them before a jurist or jury says enough is enough. Glock 9 millimeters were issued in response to the fire power of the “bad” guys who had superior fire power over the police when they carried revolvers pre-1980s. It is very ironic that in the last few high profile shootings in New York, the “bad” guys were unarmed. Not only were they unarmed, but not engaged in criminal activity either. There are many issues that come to mind for me, but two that I think need to be addressed.

The first of these issues that needs to be addressed is whether the police department needs to re-evaluate its hiring and vetting process for police officers. That includes the background check and training and re-training that goes on within the department. The other issue is the need for the jurist, judges and court system, to address how they view victims of a crime when the defendant is a law enforcement officer; by that I mean are they any more credible than the victim they may be charged with inflicting harm on. One could construe that there is a conspiracy of solidarity between the two agencies that provides one with the unspoken responsibility to protect the other, at any cost, even when humans are shot, killed, and maimed by the use of 41 or 50 rounds being expended. This conspiracy of solidarity only serves to cause some in the public to further distrust, hold enmity and further the chasm between the people who raise their hand to uphold the constitution, serve and protect the citizens; the courts who are charged with employing fair, unbiased and independent judgment in its decisions; and the general public, particularly those who find themselves victimized more so than others based on their numbers in the population.

My heart goes out to the families of those who have been victims of officers who may have over-reacted and to those officers who do their jobs in a professional and caring manner, those officers who will have to endure the backlash of the few as they truly endeavor to serve the citizens to the best of their ability.

Before one rushes to judgment about this author, please know that I served as a police officer for ten years and a postal inspector for twelve years. Not only did I spend my first incarnation in law enforcement but I also served a tour in Vietnam. I have been in ministry for the past eighteen years and the two perspectives enable me to be able to share the views which I have penned herein.

Be Blessed and a Blessing

Rev. Dr. Hillary Gaston, Sr.
Fellowship of Reconciliation