The Sean Bell case was decided and the three detectives acquitted in a bench trial. That is, they waived their right to a jury trial and one judge weighed the evidence and decided they were innocent. The inner city citizens have lost their trust in their police officers. It may well be that these detectives were innocent, in the legal sense. It's not a crime to be incompetent. They have lost their jobs (thankfully) and may be civilly liable for wrongful death. CNN reports:
It was clear that Guzman was the linchpin of this case. If you believe him, that the officers shot at Bell and his friends for no reason at all, the officers are guilty. If you don't believe him, then his statement -- "Go get my gun" -- sent the night into mayhem, causing the officers to believe that the men were armed and justifying the officers' actions that night.
I can't agree with that last line. Three detectives, under cover, looking for prostitution in a strip joint. Now, good detectives, would have noticed there was a bachelor party happening. They also would have noticed that the partyers were drunk. I'm completely confused as to how detectives watching some drunk guys at a strip joint during a bachelor party, hear "Go get my gun" and lack the training to diffuse that situation without firing 50 bullets and killing an innocent and unarmed man.
And that's the problem. Even if you accept that this person said that, are we training the police to use deadly force in such an egregious manner? Are they not trained to shoot people in the leg or shoulder in order to disable them? 50 bullets????? And, of course, it's not the first time (nor sadly the second or third).
