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Major Figures In Queens Police Shooting Case [1]

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Date: 2023-02

Major Figures In Queens Police Shooting Case The police shooting that killed a groom on his wedding day has brought together a street-cop-turned-commissioner, a billionaire mayor, a hard-nosed prosecutor, and a grieving family from Queens. A look at the major figures in the case: RAY KELLY: NYPD's Top Officer A Tough Ex-Marine Ray Kelly made the move from street cop to police commissioner -- twice. Ray Kelly made the move from street cop to police commissioner -- twice. The ex-Marine did his first stint as the top cop in the nation's largest city from 1992-94, then returned in 2002 with the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Still sporting a military buzz cut, Kelly became a popular public figure; last year, his approval rate was around 70 percent. The ex-Marine did his first stint as the top cop in the nation's largest city from 1992-94, then returned in 2002 with the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Still sporting a military buzz cut, Kelly became a popular public figure; last year, his approval rate was around 70 percent. Kelly was also mentioned last year by Bloomberg as a possible successor in City Hall. If the police commissioner made the move to politics, he could become the first NYPD head to win an election since Theodore Roosevelt. Kelly was also mentioned last year by Bloomberg as a possible successor in City Hall. If the police commissioner made the move to politics, he could become the first NYPD head to win an election since Theodore Roosevelt. Kelly and his wife, Veronica, long-time residents of Battery Park City, had a front-row seat for the death and destruction of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The carnage spurred his return to public service from a security job with Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Kelly has often said. Kelly and his wife, Veronica, long-time residents of Battery Park City, had a front-row seat for the death and destruction of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The carnage spurred his return to public service from a security job with Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Kelly has often said. Kelly was widely credited with creating the NYPD's counterterrorism program, along with improving relations between the NYPD and the city's minorities. During his 31 years on the job, Kelly held virtually every rank in the department and worked in 25 different commands. Kelly was widely credited with creating the NYPD's counterterrorism program, along with improving relations between the NYPD and the city's minorities. During his 31 years on the job, Kelly held virtually every rank in the department and worked in 25 different commands. Kelly was raised on Manhattan's Upper West Side, a much tougher neighborhood during his childhood. His father was a milkman, and his mother worked at Macy's. The family moved to Queens, where Kelly played football -- and suffered a broken wrist, a broken thumb and a broken nose. Kelly was raised on Manhattan's Upper West Side, a much tougher neighborhood during his childhood. His father was a milkman, and his mother worked at Macy's. The family moved to Queens, where Kelly played football -- and suffered a broken wrist, a broken thumb and a broken nose. The future police officer saw combat as a Marine commander during the Vietnam War. The future police officer saw combat as a Marine commander during the Vietnam War. Mayor David Dinkins, a Democrat, appointed Kelly to his first term as police commissioner. In between his stints at One Police Plaza, Kelly worked as commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service as undersecretary for enforcement at the U.S. Treasury Department. Mayor David Dinkins, a Democrat, appointed Kelly to his first term as police commissioner. In between his stints at One Police Plaza, Kelly worked as commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service as undersecretary for enforcement at the U.S. Treasury Department. In addition, Kelly was the head of the International Police Monitors in Haiti, where his agency moved to create a police force and end human rights abuses. In addition, Kelly was the head of the International Police Monitors in Haiti, where his agency moved to create a police force and end human rights abuses. SEAN BELL: Victim Was A Star High School Pitcher, Father Of 2 If Sean Bell had made any mistakes in his life, he wasn't going to make another when it came to the mother of his two young children. If Sean Bell had made any mistakes in his life, he wasn't going to make another when it came to the mother of his two young children. The 23-year-old Bell was going to wed Nicole Paultre and raise his girls. The 23-year-old Bell was going to wed Nicole Paultre and raise his girls. Paultre was his sweetheart since back in high school, when he was a standout pitcher on the baseball team. He finished his senior season with an 11-0 record, helping the team reach a division title. Paultre was his sweetheart since back in high school, when he was a standout pitcher on the baseball team. He finished his senior season with an 11-0 record, helping the team reach a division title. Bell thought he had the stuff to play professionally, but those dreams had to be shelved. Bell thought he had the stuff to play professionally, but those dreams had to be shelved. Life got in the way. Life got in the way. He impregnated Paultre, who had their first child, Jada, now 3. Jordyn was born about five months ago. Instead of throwing fast balls, the doting father was changing diapers and doing odd jobs. He impregnated Paultre, who had their first child, Jada, now 3. Jordyn was born about five months ago. Instead of throwing fast balls, the doting father was changing diapers and doing odd jobs. Recently, Bell wanted to leave rough-and-tumble Queens and New York after minor run-ins with the law. He didn't want to raise family here. It was too dangerous, he told his pastor. Recently, Bell wanted to leave rough-and-tumble Queens and New York after minor run-ins with the law. He didn't want to raise family here. It was too dangerous, he told his pastor. So he set his sights on somewhere else like Atlanta. Things were slower there, and perhaps, he reckoned, less violent. So he set his sights on somewhere else like Atlanta. Things were slower there, and perhaps, he reckoned, less violent. But whatever dreams lay down south fell apart early Saturday morning, when police shot and killed him after a bachelor's party at a Queens strip club. But whatever dreams lay down south fell apart early Saturday morning, when police shot and killed him after a bachelor's party at a Queens strip club. He died the day of wedding. His dreams went with him. He died the day of wedding. His dreams went with him. RICHARD BROWN: Queens District Attorney Is A Hard-Nosed Prosecutor Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown is known as a demanding, hands-on boss who thinks nothing of getting out of bed at 2 a.m. to visit a crime scene. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown is known as a demanding, hands-on boss who thinks nothing of getting out of bed at 2 a.m. to visit a crime scene. Brown commands such an aggressive attitude toward crime that he established a 24-hour hot line a decade ago that enables him and prosecutors to respond to every major crime scene, around the clock, in Queens County. Brown commands such an aggressive attitude toward crime that he established a 24-hour hot line a decade ago that enables him and prosecutors to respond to every major crime scene, around the clock, in Queens County. The DA's response to Saturday's fatal shooting of an unarmed bridegroom by five police officers in the Jamaica section of Queens was no different. Brown dispatched senior prosecutors to the scene within hours to assist in an investigation that may become one of the most emotionally charged cases in his 15-year tenure. The DA's response to Saturday's fatal shooting of an unarmed bridegroom by five police officers in the Jamaica section of Queens was no different. Brown dispatched senior prosecutors to the scene within hours to assist in an investigation that may become one of the most emotionally charged cases in his 15-year tenure. The 74-year-old former judge is no stranger to high-profile crimes. He served 18 years on the bench, including nine years on the Appellate Division of New York while presiding over cases such as the arraignment of the "Son of Sam" serial killer in 1977. The 74-year-old former judge is no stranger to high-profile crimes. He served 18 years on the bench, including nine years on the Appellate Division of New York while presiding over cases such as the arraignment of the "Son of Sam" serial killer in 1977. As the chief law enforcement officer in Queens, he prosecuted the two men convicted in the Wendy's massacre in which seven employees of the fast-food restaurant were herded into a freezer during a robbery and five of them were shot to death. One of those convicted, John Taylor, is the only defendant currently on death row in New York. As the chief law enforcement officer in Queens, he prosecuted the two men convicted in the Wendy's massacre in which seven employees of the fast-food restaurant were herded into a freezer during a robbery and five of them were shot to death. One of those convicted, John Taylor, is the only defendant currently on death row in New York. The short, stocky Brown, has devoted most of his life to public service and is popular with the public. The short, stocky Brown, has devoted most of his life to public service and is popular with the public. Brown is considered fair-minded and a perfectionist, is at his desk by 7 a.m. in the courthouse and works most days until past midnight, subsisting on his customary Diet Cokes. At least three nights a week, he attends community meetings in Queens, the city's largest borough geographically and considered the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, with 2.2 million residents. Brown is considered fair-minded and a perfectionist, is at his desk by 7 a.m. in the courthouse and works most days until past midnight, subsisting on his customary Diet Cokes. At least three nights a week, he attends community meetings in Queens, the city's largest borough geographically and considered the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, with 2.2 million residents. He meets with the heads of different bureaus three times a week, and receives daily briefings on trials. He meets with the heads of different bureaus three times a week, and receives daily briefings on trials. Brown is expected to be just as personally involved with the police shooting case. Brown is expected to be just as personally involved with the police shooting case. "He won't linger nor will he rush to judgment," said John Ryan, his chief assistant. "It may sound corny, but he will do the right thing." "He won't linger nor will he rush to judgment," said John Ryan, his chief assistant. "It may sound corny, but he will do the right thing." ------ ------ MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: Mayor's Response Has Been Closely Watched And Measured Mayor Michael Bloomberg surprised many City Hall observers when his first public comments about the police shooting included the candid assessment that 50 shots seemed like excessive force. Mayor Michael Bloomberg surprised many City Hall observers when his first public comments about the police shooting included the candid assessment that 50 shots seemed like excessive force. The Republican mayor -- who is now in his second term -- was straying from the tradition of his predecessor, Rudy Giuliani, where a mayor does not question the actions of his police officers, even at the risk of upsetting the community and rekindling racial tensions. The Republican mayor -- who is now in his second term -- was straying from the tradition of his predecessor, Rudy Giuliani, where a mayor does not question the actions of his police officers, even at the risk of upsetting the community and rekindling racial tensions. Last weekend's melee that left one man dead and two of this friends wounded was not the first police shooting to occur on Bloomberg's watch, but his response is being closely watched and measured because of the similarities to a 1999 police killing of another unarmed black man, Amadou Diallo. Giuliani's handling of that shooting ignited a furor about police brutality and his administration's treatment of black and Latino residents. Last weekend's melee that left one man dead and two of this friends wounded was not the first police shooting to occur on Bloomberg's watch, but his response is being closely watched and measured because of the similarities to a 1999 police killing of another unarmed black man, Amadou Diallo. Giuliani's handling of that shooting ignited a furor about police brutality and his administration's treatment of black and Latino residents. For the most part, Bloomberg and his Police Commissioner, Raymond Kelly, have received good marks in their first five years for improving police relations and keeping racial tensions mostly calm, although many black and Latino leaders say members of their communities still often feel unfairly targeted by officers on the street. For the most part, Bloomberg and his Police Commissioner, Raymond Kelly, have received good marks in their first five years for improving police relations and keeping racial tensions mostly calm, although many black and Latino leaders say members of their communities still often feel unfairly targeted by officers on the street. After a meeting this week with elected officials and community leaders from the Queens neighborhood where Bell was killed, Bloomberg said "there were people that stood up and said that we've made a lot of progress, and there were people that stood up and said that we have a long ways to go, and I think both of those groups were right on target." © 2007 by WNBC.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. After a meeting this week with elected officials and community leaders from the Queens neighborhood where Bell was killed, Bloomberg said "there were people that stood up and said that we've made a lot of progress, and there were people that stood up and said that we have a long ways to go, and I think both of those groups were right on target."

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