The unfortunate death and subsequent investigation of Detective Ridley has echoed many concerns in the Black Community as it relates to the perceptions and attitudes of Law Enforcement and the Justice System in Westchester County. The Westchester Chapter of the National Black Police Association will continue to support the Ridley Family in their determination to a achieve truth and justice in this unfortunate situation.
The “sweep under the rug technique” used by Westchester politicians and the DA’s office is a disservice to the Ridley Family as well as a disservice to the four county police officers involved in this tragic incident. Those involved with the investigation claim that there was complete and thorough investigation which is contrary to the obvious facts of he case. For instance:
Within four hours of the tragic event, Detective Robin Martin’s name, the only Black officer involved, was leaked to the media and the community at large.
After investigating the crime scene for four hours, there was no shell casing found from Detective Martin’s gun.
There was no final ballistics report indicating whose gun was used for the two fatal shots that killed Detective Ridley.
Detective Ridley was reported to have powder burns on shirt. What is the distance from the shooter to the target that will render powder burns?
The report to the family that one officer was so close, he claimed he could of grabbed Ridleys feet while he and Jacobs were struggling for the gun. Why didn’t he react with pepper spay?
The disrespectful and discouraging manner some interviews were conducted and on one occasion, imprisonment. Was this because their statements contradict the pre-judged theory that the blame was on our brother Detective Ridley?
Why wasn’t Mt. Vernon Police Department’s I.A.D. Unit involved in the investigation? It is normal procedure to have a representative from the officer’s police unit to participate in the investigation when one of their members weapons discharges.
For the Grand Jury to make a determination within in 35 days on a case that involved police firing their guns during rush hour in downtown White Plains is troublesome and appears to be inadequate to say the least. The DA’s office claims to have had 62 witnesses that came before the Grand Jury. Are we to assume that 62 witnesses gave statements, were questioned and follow-up was done to validate their statements including cross checking with the video surveillance; and this was all completed within 35 days of the incident? How is this possible when it took almost a year to investigate the Sean Bell case, a civilian with less than half of the witnesses, a police department much larger and more resources, before going to the Grand Jury?
For the Westchester PBA President to criticize supporters of the Ridley family by saying they must have an “agenda” and a “preconceived outcome”. He is totally mistaken. Nothing is preconceived when New York’s history shows that this type on unfortunate incident only happens to Black law enforcement professionals and NEVER in the reverse. Nothing is preconceived when generations of Black males have been subject to police brutality, police misconduct, and unjust shootings cloaked by bias institutional polices that allow them to say its "JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE".
The Westchester NBPA’s statements are not an indictment of the four County Police Officers. This is an impartial continuous request for a fair and full investigation for COMPLETE JUSTICE. We would hope to think if the families of the Four County Police Officers were in the Ridley family’s situation, they would request the same.
POLICY AND PROCEDURE
Unfortunately, Westchester County is using smoke and mirrors on the issue at hand. The Westchester NBPA feels they are totally missing the point. We need to deal with ALL Law Enforcement that carry a weapon off duty and have the powers under NYS Criminal Law section 2.10 to make a warrantless arrests and the use of deadly force. That should include training for Police Officers, Probation Officers, Court Officers, Corrections Officers, Sheriffs and any other Law Enforcement Professional that fall under NYS Criminal Law section 2.10 in Westchester County.
With President Bush signing the HR218 Law “ The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act” that allows officers off-duty, as well as retired, peace officers Right To Carry reciprocity throughout the nation in order to help prevent crime in communities. With this type of law in place and the horrific outcome of many officers being shot or killed and it being classified as “friendly fire”, a comprehensive “Off Duty” training class should be implemented for ALL Law Enforcement Professionals in Westchester County. The NBPA’s national office in Washington D.C. has met with representative in Congress to amend the law to add such a type comprehensive training along with the Article 35 “The Use of Force” and Yearly firearms qualification.
The Westchester NBPA has never heard of Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Monte Long until the Detective Ridley incident. We are told he comes from NYC Police Academy. NYC has a long history of Black officers being shot and African American males being unjustly shot. Just as recent as the Sean Bell Case, NYC Police Department policies and procedures are under the highest scrutiny. So what will this panel bring that will be new and innovative? Who are the other law enforcement organizations from the Black community, since history shows that Black officers are the only ones being shot in situations such as this? The Westchester NBPA has been the only Black Law Enforcement organization that has been critical of Westchester County and individual Police Department’s policies and procedures when it comes to the Black, Hispanic and poor communities.
POLICE CRIMINALITY IN BLACK COMMUNITIES
Police brutality and misconduct is an ongoing occurrence in the poor Black and Latino communities in Westchester County. The Westchester NBPA considers this brutality and misconduct POLICE CRIMINALITY. Any law enforcement officer that has powers to arrest, use deadly force, and received comprehensive training by certified institutions of Law Enforcement that will go into a community and abuse the powers they have from the state of New York is committing no less than a Criminal act them self.
We found common charges among citizens that had complaints of police criminality. These charges are resisting arrest, trespassing, and obstruction of governmental operations.
Since most of the families that are victims of Police Criminality live at poverty level or below, they have no means to afford proper legal representation. The majorities are ill- advised on their charges and have no choice to plea bargain for a lesser charge. Doing this keeps the courts moving and the jails filled. This is always the case when the victims are poor citizens that lack the funds, knowledge and recourses to fight City Hall.
As a law enforcement organization, this is not an attack on the good law enforcement officers that go to work everyday and do the job they are sworn to do. Instead we are demanding critical and fair accountability of the few police officers that cross the line and that Westchester County officials, police administrations, and politicians recognize and correct their failure to address this ongoing problem.
It is no surprise that minority citizens, especially the Black community have a constant cry for justice. The tragedy of Detective Ridley and its “so-called” investigation is a constant reminder of the negative perceptions and biasness of institutional policies. We must take a critical examination of the issues at hand. There is a lack of Black representation among law enforcement agencies in the cities, towns, and villages of Westchester County. There must be certified, conventional training for all law enforcement officers how to carrying firearms off duty. There must be racial sensitivity classes to better understand the races and cultures you protect and serve. There must be better community relations with the minority community. Without that these things the Black community is at a tremendous disadvantage and can never hope to receive the service and protection from the police they are rightfully due.
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