Seen On

Disciplinary Action Against 50 Shots Officers

Nightmare Continues For 3 Detectives Acquitted In April

NEW YORK (CBS) ― There has been a major development in the wake of the Sean Bell shooting trial. On Tuesday, the NYPD announced that the officers involved are going to face departmental charges for their roles in the shooting.

The three of the officers who were acquitted in the case top the list, but now four more have been added to that, including the lieutenant who headed up the undercover operation the night of the shooting back in November of 2006.

The charges could lead to dismissal. They come about a month after Detectives Michael Oliver, Gescard Isnora and Marc Cooper were acquitted on manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Bell on his wedding day.

The departmental charges claim the detectives discharged their firearms outside of NYPD guidelines. Lieutenant Gary Napoli was hit with a charge for failing to adequately supervise the police raid that led to the shooting. 

At least three others face disciplinary charges.

Reaction from The Rev. Al Sharpton came quickly. The head of the National Action Network said, "I feel this is a step in the right direction, but I strongly believe that the police commissioner should fire the officers," adding, "There must be no tolerance for crime but also no tolerance for police misconduct and the New York Police Department must send a strong firm signal that that is the case."

The police union told CBS 2 HD it will rigorously defend the charges against the officers.

The 23-year-old Bell died in a hail of 50 bullets on Nov. 25, 2006 around the corner from a Queens topless bar where he had a bachelor party.

Two of his friends were seriously wounded.

The police defendants said at trial that they opened fire on Bell's car because they believed he and his friends were armed. No weapon was
recovered.

Since the acquittals, Sharpton has led acts of civil disobedience around the city in protest.

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