Community Responses to Indictment of Police Officers
New York, NY —
Three police officers charged in the shooting that left Sean Bell dead and wounded 2 of his friends are free on bail, after pleading not guilty. Two of them face manslaughter charges and the 3rd faces reckless endangerment. Two other officers who opened fire were not charged.
REPORTER: The scene is now set for a long trial, which district attorney Richard Brown promised would not be tried in the media. Bedford-Stuyvesant resident Howard Folk says he's suspended judgment about the officers until there's a verdict about their guilt or innocence.
FOLK: I did hate the cops at one time, but I had my reason. But I had to grow up - I have kids myself, and grandchildren. You can't just say the cops were against him because he was black. You weren't there - I wasn't there.
REPORTER: Sherwin Prudent, also of Bed-Stuy, says he's been treated unfairly by the NYPD. Prudent says he's scared of all cops, no matter what color they are.
PRUDENT: I'm cautious because it doesn't really matter to me. It's the uniform that scares me. It's not the color of the cop - it's the blue uniform. Not the white or black skin. Know what I mean?
REPORTER: Sean Bell's mother, Valerie, says at the very least, she expects change and learning will be the result of her son's death.
BELL: Jesus, at the time when he overthrew the tables at the tabernacle because all were doing wrong. And it also came to me that Jesus would overthrow the tables of the NYPD because they all, not all, but the ones who did wrong. But that there would be a change in this world because of my son. His life will be not in vain.
REPORTER: The 2 officers who fired 42 of the 50 shots at Sean Bell could face up to 25 years behind bars.
