In the wake of Eric Garner's highly publicized death,  many African-American police officers are finding themselves caught in the middle of fiery debate over the use of excessive force. As we mark Black History Month, NY1's Cheryl Wills speaks to two important figures in the NYPD with sharply different views. She filed this report.

“The most difficult part of this whole process is people failing to understand that I am an African-American man. I could be Eric Garner or I could be Daniel Pantaleo – I could be either or," says 48-year-old NYPD Detective Yuseff Hamm.

Hamm readily admits that he is caught in the middle of a firestorm within his own ranks.  He is the president of the NYPD Guardians Association, a fraternal organization of African American police officers. There are about 2,000 members and they are sharply divided about the use of force in the death of Eric Garner. Many members want Yuseff Hamm—who's been on the job since 2001—to condemn what some black officers believe  is excessive force, but Hamm refuses. For that, he says, he's been harshly criticized.

"You should read some of the emails that I receive. They call me all kinds of names except the one name that I remember," says Hamm. "The guardians position is unique. As the president of this fraternal organization, I've made a conscious decision to stand on the side of justice."

"He caused a man to lose his life and as far as I'm concerned that's unforgivable," says Charlie McCray, the president of the Retired NYPD Guardians. 

McCray has harsh words for NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who is seen here taking Eric Garner down. He says his 800 African-American retired NYPD members are  unanimously opposed to the way officers handled Eric Garner—and the group also has strong views about Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch.

"Pat Lynch is protecting his job, but he really, really overdid it," McCray says.

Although Hamm and McCray have different points of view, both agree that more dialogue is needed and The Guardians should be included in the ongoing dialogue at City Hall.