http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/nyregion/26BELL.html?hp

On November 25, 2006, Sean Bell, Joseph Guzman, and Trent Benefield were shot at 50 times by plain clothed officers Marc Cooper, Gescard Isnora, and Michael Oliver. The shooting resulted in Bell's death on the day of his wedding. Today, Judge Arthur Cooperman found the detectives not guilty on all charges, including reckless endangerment and manslaughter in the first and second degrees.

There was no gun found on the men that night, although the officers tried to say that they were fired at. And throughout the trial, the prosecution (Benefield and Guzman) presented the judge with over 50 witnesses while the defense (the officers) did not present much evidence to prove their actions were justifiable. The officers didn't even take the stand in the trial.

People in New York City were hoping that the judge would set a precedent in sending a message to NYPD that they can not get away with mistreating the city's black community, even though history has taught us that police usually get away scott free in these situations.

It is a very emotionally charged in NYC today, but I want to know how prevelent this is in other parts of the country, and how do the citizens handle it where other people are from? I can say that I don't believe that there will be a riot, but people are angry and individuals are liable to do anything.

What do you have to say?

GO POLICE!!!!MY DADDY IS A COP

You stink-ass!

i am honestly and truly disgusted by this

I think i heard that the two black cops only fired within their clip. The white cop dumped about over 30. I remember hearin that on the BET special on this case. Some woman had her young son killed on a roof by a cop and he got away with it. She said "a cop can kill you and get off with nothin but you kill a cop and you get life".

i think at one point, prolly when i first heard about this i was a lil pissed... not so much anymore. I knew they were gonna get off. Anger is completely understanable.

I was recently pulled over for the first time in my life. I was surprised to find myself scared shitless. lol. My mom was like "can you get my papers"... and i didnt know where they were. She was gesturin to the glove compartment and i was scared outta my mind that the cop was gonna do somethin if i reached into the glove compartment...lmao. I guess its shit like this that makes me scared of cops.