Updated 11/30/2011 11:30 PM
Detective Who Fired First Shot At Sean Bell Expected To Face Dismissal, Source Says
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The commissioner overseeing the departmental trial of two NYPD officers involved in the fatal shooting of Sean Bell is expected to recommend the firing of Detective Gescard Isnora to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, a source told NY1 Wednesday. NY1’s Ruschell Boone filed the following report.William Bell is hoping Detective Gescard Isnora will be removed from the police force after being found guilty of violating New York City Police Department rules in a departmental trial following the deadly shooting of his son Sean five years ago.
"He should be fired," said Bell.
That decision is being left up to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, but those close to the investigation say the NYPD trials commissioner recommends dismissal.
Bell said it's a slap on the wrist for the killing of his son.
"He ain’t doin’ no time. He ain’t doin’ nothing. So if he gets fired all he does is go home and one day get another job," said Bell.
Sean Bell was killed and two of his friends were wounded when officers fired at the group as they were leaving Bell's bachelor party at the Kalua strip club. During the trial, Detective Isnora testified that he thought Bell's friend, who was in the passenger seat, was reaching for a weapon.
The NYPD trial determined Isnora acted recklessly when he fired the first shot at the car. Five officers fired 50 bullets.
“I disagree with the trial commissioner and his verdict and the recommendation. But you know, there’s a penalty phase, and I’m just going to reserve any further comment until that phase has been completed,” said Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives Endowment Association.
Isnora shot 11 times. Another officer, Michael Carey, opened fire after Isnora did, but he was acquitted of all charges in the NYPD trial.
The disciplinary proceeding follows a 2008 trial where Isnora and two other officers were acquitted of criminal charges. Carey was never charged criminally.
“I certainly expected the detective to be cleared of the charges he was charged with in the department’s trial,” said Palladino. “After a full and thorough examination of the facts in Supreme Court and after another examination by the United States Department of Justice, our detectives did what they had to do that evening.”