Sean Bell's Family Wants Cops Kicked Off The Force

A day after federal investigators announced that there is "insufficient evidence" to pursue a civil rights case against the officers who shot and killed Sean Bell, relatives of the 23-year-old said they are after the officers' badges. "Myself and my family are going to do everything possible to see that these police officers are fired," said Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre-Bell. "There is a history of black men being killed by police officers, and something needs to be done ... We're hoping to eventually meet with President Obama, and that he'll do something, because this is a national problem."

Following the acquittal of three officers involved in the 50-shot barrage that claimed Bell's life outside a Queens strip club on the day of his wedding, the victim's friends and family pushed for a federal civil rights trial. But according to Bell's father, William, prosecutors felt they "were limited by statutes and evidence." He told the Daily News: "My son's dead, and they can't do anything about it. He can't even rest in peace."

The Justice Department released a statement published in the Post noting it decided against pressing charges because "[p]rosecutors must establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a law-enforcement officer willfully deprived an individual of a constitutional right, meaning with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids ... Neither accident, mistake, fear, negligence, nor bad judgment is sufficient to establish a federal criminal civil rights violation." The president of the Detectives' Endowment Association said he was "gratified" by the decision.

Bell's family and the other victims of the shooting intend to launch a civil lawsuit. Seven officers—including four of the five who shot at Bell's vehicle—still face an internal police department review, according to the Times. All but one of them remain on desk duty without guns or shields, and if they are found guilty of breaking departmental rules they could be fired.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Muessig in News on February 17, 2010 1:40 PM

Comments [rss]

S.K.

Not Nicole Paultre Bell- you can do better than this. Move on and remarry already.

slny

Quit race baiting.

dgeee

Cops who were drunk on duty and throwing shots around like it was a bad day in Iraq should get thrown off the force.

Gwinny

Whoever said the cops were drunk? First I've heard of that...

theevilone

So the internal investigation will determine whether to strip them of their badges, and that is already underway. What more do they want?

And WTF is Obama going to do? Tape some police instructional videos?

etypical

beer summit!!

fuboy

"Sean Bell's Family Wants Cops Kicked Off The Force"

And I want a spaceship. I don't deserve it, it's not something that's owed to me, but I still want it.

And Clarice, I think the same thing every time I see that photo. The world lost a true family man.

ElleCat

This is where you're dead wrong. You ARE owed that space ship! You're also owed an upper middle class lifestyle and a new car. Now get out there and vote!

Gwinny

Wait - didn't Sean Bell violate those cops' civil rights when he drunkenly tried to run them over with his car?

Clarice City

I love that this guy was too gangsta to smile for the Sears family portrait.

etypical

it's not his fault - there were cops there. Now Nicole has to sue Sears.

Spirit of 76

I feel sorry for the baby. He's going to grow up brainwashed with all these ideas that his family was wronged. Kids in school are going to be making fun of him for clinging to that notion. Do cops get sloppy and kill men without just cause? On rare occasions, yes. Is Sean Bell one of them? No. It is a grave disservice to Amadou Diallo and others to try to group Bell with them.

Billiamsburg

You know in the godfather all those mob scum are like 'This is the life we chose." Why cant the black gangsta scum understand that principle? You want to live your life by some criminal street trash tough guy mantra you have to be responsible for those choices. put it to rest Bell family and maybe try to NOT make the same mistake with your new rodent children, but i suspect you will because why should YOU be responsible when you can blame whites, cops, landlords, employers, society, america, the bodega owner, the fast food employee, the old man on the bus who didn't move, etc, etc.

ed_Extinct

There's also a history of black men committing an ungodly high rate of murder. But I digress, why address an issue with community values, it's easier to grandstand.

thewildpansy

this fuckin annoying bitch. annoying as the 9/11 families that are still being misguided and annoying.

Stephenson Billings

I believe everyone connected with this unfortunate circumstance has suffered enough.

etypical

this was a guy with a record, who waited yeeeeeeeeeears before he was willing to marry the mother of his children and then went to a whore-house. Let's go ahead and get that halo off his head already. And Nicole, trying hooking yourself to someone who isn't a huge moral loser. Better luck next time.

pastaboy12

cause Barak Obama can solve every problem!! esp a black persons!

sexisicilian

I thought Obama's mama was white: can he help us white folks out too??

Stevennnn

I was thinking since he is black Nicole was thinking maybe he can help another black person out.

Sean Bell got what he deserved. Another criminal off the street

Stevennnn

I was thinking since he is black Nicole was thinking maybe he can help another black person out.

Sean Bell got what he deserved. Another criminal off the street.