Vol. 72/No. 23      June 9, 2008

The administrative charges were filed nearly a month after Queens Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman cleared three city police officers of all charges in the 50-shot barrage on Nov. 25, 2006, that killed Bell, a 23-year-old African American, and seriously wounded two of his friends. The judge argued that the prosecution had not proved that the shooting was unjustified. The ruling provoked widespread protest.

The three detectives who stood trial in the case—Gescard Isnora, Michael Oliver, and Marc Cooper—along with officer Michael Carey are now charged with “discharging their firearms outside of department guidelines.” Lt. Gary Napoli, the commanding officer, is cited for “failure to supervise the operation.” Two other detectives, Robin Knapp and Sgt. Huey McNeal, are charged with “failing to ensure a thorough crime scene investigation.”

If found guilty, the officers could face disciplinary action as minor as lost vacation days or as severe as termination. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said that these charges would not be acted upon until the Justice Department completes its investigation of whether the acquitted police officers violated federal criminal civil rights statutes.
 
 
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