Mayor Bloomberg Worried Blacks May Riot Over Bell Verdict: NYPD Shot Unarmed Black Man 50 Times

With a verdict on the horizon in the Sean Bell trial — one that has the potential of sparking outrage throughout the city — Mayor Bloomberg yesterday met with leaders of the black community in Queens to discuss the need for leadership in the aftermath of the decision.

If Judge Arthur Cooperman acquits the three officers charged in the shooting of Bell, an unarmed man who was killed in barrage of 50 bullets, civil unrest could resemble that following the 2000 acquittal of four white police officers in the shooting of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed black man fatally shot in the Bronx. Then, about 100 people were arrested for participating in various protests on charges that included reckless endangerment and inciting a riot.

Some of the leaders who met with Mr. Bloomberg yesterday at New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jamaica were adamant that only a guilty verdict for the detectives, Gescard Isnora, Michael Oliver, and Marc Cooper, would demonstrate justice, but they downplayed the plausibility of any violence.

"If there is no justice, then we absolutely will be calling for a peaceful, law abiding, responsible, but militant demonstration," a City Council member who represents parts of Queens, James Sanders, said after meeting with the mayor.

Closing statements in the case against the police officers charged with shooting Bell outside of a strip club in Queens on the night before his wedding day are expected to take place on Monday. It is then that Judge Cooperman, who will decide the case — not a jury — is likely to announce a date for when he will reach a verdict, several defense lawyers said.

"My expectation is that no matter what the decision is, everybody will act in a dignified, appropriate manner no matter what they think, and understand that this is a country of laws and that we have to make sure that we work within the law," Mr. Bloomberg said.

Several defense attorneys said Judge Cooperman could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to reach a verdict.

"With the city on pins and needles, I would say he might lean towards doing it sooner rather than later," a defense attorney, Arthur Aidala, said of Judge Cooperman. "He is a consummate professional, so he'll do things the best way conceivable."

A City Council member who has been outspoken in his criticism of the police department in the wake of the shooting, Charles Barron, said the mayor should have more important concerns than protests.

"He needs to curb his police and not worry about what the people are doing after the Sean Bell case," Mr. Barron said.

Considering the case is under such a microscope, a defense attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, said he thinks Judge Cooperman will likely take several weeks to deliberate before coming to a decision.

If Judge Cooperman were to decide to acquit the officers next week, protests could coincide with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, which would undoubtedly place strains on an already short-handed police force.

When Commissioner Raymond Kelly was asked yesterday if there were security concerns over protests occurring during the pope's visit or if concerns had been discussed with Judge Cooperman, he said "no and no." [MORE]