Governor David Paterson announced in Midtown Manhattan Friday that a statewide task force will be formed in the next two weeks to investigate so-called friendly fire police shootings of undercover police officers.

The announcement came more than a week after the shooting death of Police Officer Omar Edwards, 25, by another city policeman in East Harlem, which has raised questions about race.

"We don't want to see this happen to any police officer of any color ever again," said the governor. "We want to try to put in protocols that prevent the shooting of police officers on or off duty who are trying to apprehend criminals."

The parameters of the commission remain unclear, but the governor said the panel would investigate data of other friendly fire shooting, fatal or otherwise, to see whether officers of certain races are more often the victims.

Paterson said that other racially-charged police matters like "stop and frisk" policies have been previously investigated.

Paterson expressed confidence in the investigation of the incident currently being undertaken by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

However, the governor also said he "will not close the door on [the] possibility" of asking for an independent investigation.

Edwards was gunned while chasing a robbery suspect in East Harlem last Thursday. Police say Edwards was in plain clothes and chasing the suspect with his gun drawn.

The governor said Edwards's shooting probably did not result from "institutional or direct racism," and claimed he "goes to bed praying that this [shooting] was a complete accident."

The Reverend Al Sharpton, who joined the governor, Albany lawmakers and the head of the state's NAACP at Friday's meeting, disagreed with the governor and said a federal investigation was still needed.

"Maybe of us feel a special prosecutor may be necessary in this case," said Sharpton. "And let me explain why. One, it's troubling to some of us, and I'm speaking now for myself and the civil rights community, ... that some of this story was told by the morning after the shooting, when there were no witnesses."

Sharpton also feared that Morgenthau's successor would treat the investigation differently.

NYPD officials say that 10 city police officers have been shot and killed due to mistaken identity since 1930. Four of the officers were black, five of the officers were white and one was a white Hispanic.

Police officials also said they are looking into gun technology to help policemen locate each other.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg posthumously promoted Edwards to detective at his funeral, increasing the death benefits to his family.

Meanwhile, just a few blocks from where Edwards died, members of Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church in East Harlem devoted their Friday service to remembering the slain officer.

The pastor called all worshippers to the pulpit to pray for healing in the local community, the police department and Edwards's family.

Church officials hoped for the governor's task force to be a step in the right direction.

"We live in a society where injustices have been a part of our history and we want justice to be assured for our future," said the Reverend Luonne Abram Rouse of Metropolitan Community.

"That kind of split-second thinking, you have to look back at your entire profile, the way you were raised, the conversations at your dinner table. That moment is a composite of your whole life, and I think that needs to be checked out," said the Reverend Bruce Grodner of the Universal Peace Federation of New York.

Metropolitan Community's pastor said he is eager to see the outcome of the investigation, but felt an external one might be more effective.

Edwards is survived by a wife and two young children.