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Ralph E. Smith -Publisher HomePage
NYPD Police Officer Omar J. Edwards
Killed by Friendly Gun Fire
CHARLES BILLUPS PRESIDENT GRAND COUNCIL OF GUARDIANS 98.7FM OPENLINE: WE NEED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF THE NYPD JUNE 7, 2009@ 10:15AM Guardian Chronicle.Com Charlies Billups stated, "We need to change the culture of the New York Police Department. Roger Able puts the whole problem in his book, "Black Shield" This is a book that I'm reading now. The history of NYPD is in this book. What we need is a Special Prosecutor for this case." |
On May 28, 2009, NYPD Officer Omar Edwards, age 25, was shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity while attempting to arrest a man who he caught breaking into his car. Officer Edwards, who was in plainclothes, had just finished his shift and was returning to his personal vehicle when he observed a man going through the vehicle and attempted to arrest him. The man broke free and fled on foot as Officer Edward chased him with his gun drawn. Three officers driving by observed Officer Edwards chasing the suspect and made a U-turn to follow them. One of the officers exited the patrol car and opened fire, striking Officer Edwards. He was transported to Harlem Hospital Center where he succumbed to his wounds. Officer Edwards had served with the New York City Police Department for two years and was assigned to the Housing Bureau Impact Response Team. He is survived by his wife and two young children. STREET BEAT: IT WASN'T BLACK OR WHITE: IT WAS A TRAGIC MISTAKE THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF A NYPD POLICE OFFICER : Written by Ralph E Smith Our support goes out to the family and all who knew Police Officer Omar Edwards. This is an on going investigation. One Guardian Chronicle reader states: "I was disappointed not to see anything about PO Omar Edwards posted on the webpage. Nothing about his untimely death, funeral, investigations, news, memorial or tribute." We thank Mr. Omar K. Smith for sending in his thoughts. We wanted to include the story in our Sunday Street Beat after talking with people and giving our readers an opportunity to send in their views. The Guardian Chronicle is very sad to hear that another cop who is African American was shot dead. We will not judge the fellow cop that shot him. I think that the training has to be looked at. We spoke to people behind the blue wall that said, Hey Smithy this is sad, but it's not about black and white . It was about a tragic mistake. The cop did not knowingly shoot another cop or some black guy. He shot someone he thought was the bad guy based on the actions that night." What is needed is serious training and policy change. Hopefully the on going actions of organizations like 100 Blacks In Law Enforcement Who Care, Grand Council of Guardians, NOBLE and other organizations can keep the focus and pressure on getting new training for the NYPD so that another cop is not killed and more black men are not killed. On Saturday in Harlem, U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel joined the Rev. Al Sharpton in calling for a federal probe, while Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Kelly met with concerned community members around the city. Edwards' family mourned their son, who always wanted to be a police officer and had two small children and a wife.
"If you become an officer and you have a pistol and you are of color, in or out of uniform, your chances of getting shot down by a police officer are a lot heavier than if you were not of color," Rangel said.
Rev. Al Sharpton issued a statement saying he is "concerned of a growing pattern of Black officers being killed with the assumption that they are the criminals."
Omar Smith NYPD Guardian June 7, 2009 TRAINING & EXPERIENCE=PREVENTION Greetings Ralph: (Guardian Chronicle.com) Several veterans like myself believe an (4 1/2 year officer) is not quite experienced or seasoned in patrolling the streets yet alone performing police duties in either a undercover or plainclothes capacity. Fraternally yours,
NATIONAL BLACK POLICE ASSOCIATION STATEMENT PRESS RELEASE SHOOTING DEATH OF OFFICER OMAR EDWARDS MAY 29, 2009, 1127AM The shooting death of NYC Officer Omar Edwards may be only hours old; however, the known facts thus far combined with the police experience possessed by members of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) reveal that the shooter, Officer Andrew Dutton, was reckless and shot without identifying himself as a policeman and worse, failing to give Officer Edwards a chance to drop his weapon. As has been the case in all shootings of black officers by white officers ---by example the shooting of Officer Ridley in Westchester and the shooting of Officer Young in Providence, the shooting officers recklessly mistake black officers to be criminals and then commence fire without warning. This shoot first and ask questions later behavior clashes with the caution and protocol that we as police officers are supposed to undertake when confronting individuals with guns. Furthermore, consider that coroner’s report shows that Edwards was shot in the back. Consider that Dutton’s weapon is limited to a three round burst. Six to seven rounds were fired. This means that Dutton pulled the trigger at least twice. By the end of the first burst—Dutton had to know he was aiming at a man’s back and wrongfully firing his weapon. Two other officers were with Dutton, yet Dutton was the only shooter. Lastly, after Dutton shot Edwards----Edwards was handcuffed and lay dying in his blood. The officers rendered no assistance to their dying black comrade. It was not until the paramedics arrived that Edwards was tended to. Without significant efforts by the New York City Police Department to cause officers to be more open minded, there will be many more black officers killed by fellow officers. Writer & Member: Christopher Cooper: 312 371 6752 (E-mail: cooperlaw3234@gmail.com); Executive Director: Ronald Hampton, 202 744 2897 (NBPANATOFC@worldnet.att.net) National Chairperson: John Hayes National Black Police Association
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives DEMAND POLICY CHANGE (NOBLE). BY Simone Weichselbaum and Larry Mcshane Monday, June 1st 2009, 1:43 AM "We are trying to change the mind-set of officers working in minority communities," said Pegues, joined by Assistant Chief Gerald Nelson, commanding officer of Brooklyn North, and Chief Douglas Zeigler, head of the Community Affairs Bureau. The NYPD officials were not speaking for the department, but in their capacity as leaders with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). Their call came as the NYPD moved to prevent any recurrence similar to Thursday night's tragic shooting. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly - who met for 40 minutes Sunday with state Senate leaders - planned to survey undercover officers about the prevalence of similar close calls that didn't end in gunfire. And Kelly will consult with outside law enforcement experts and consultants to get a fresh take on procedures, said Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne. "We cannot let this go," Nelson said. "We have hundreds of years of executive experience that we can utilize to help this department move forward." The group of top black cops provided Edwards' wife with a cash gift. During the meeting, Danielle Edwards sat clutching her 18-month-old son, Xavier. NOBLE wants the department to posthumously promote Edwards to the rank of detective, ensuring better benefits for the two-year veteran's family. "His mom shed a lot of tears," Pegues said. "No one said to them, 'Your son, your husband died a hero.'"
Marquez Claxton speaks at the National Action Network about the fatal shooting of Police Officer Omar Edwards Justice For the criminal justice system to be trusted it must display integrity and be transparent. We Claxton for City Council 1-866-638-7708 email: OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE MARQUEZ CLAXTON FAMILY "Your Father's Transition To Be In God's House"
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