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Extra security provided for cops in Bell shooting

Monday, May 14, 2007

(New York - WABC, May 14, 2007) (WABC) -- The officers involved in the Sean Bell shooting were back in court Monday.

This time police secured the courtroom because of death threats against one of the officers.

The president of the Detectives Endowment Association today accused prosecutors of dragging their feet in providing evidence that is crucial to the defense.

"They're taking their time," said Michael Palladino. "Obviously our attorneys are not satisfied with the pace thus far." There was no immediate comment from the district attorney.

Attorneys for the three police officers indicted in the Bell shooting case asked for additional evidence, known as Brady Material, necessary to prepare their defense. Several documents were turned over and more were promised. Much of the evidence is believed to consist of witness statements.

The hearing was very short and largely uneventful. Security at the courthouse was tightened somewhat amid what were described as credible death threats against one of the detectives.

An inmate currently incarcerated at Rikers Island reportedly threatened officer Michael Oliver. It is not the first death threat against the officer, who faces manslaughter charges.

Oliver fired 31 of the 50 shots last November which killed Bell outside the Kahlua nightclub in Jamaica, Queens hours before his wedding.

The last time the officers were in court, they entered the courthouse through a side door. That action prompted Bell's family to claim the officers are receiving special treatment.

But the president of the detectives' union says it's the police who are being treated unfairly.

"You know what's also unfair treatment is that detectives and police officers in this city putting their lives on the line every single day acting in good faith and within the law can be charged. I've never seen that done before," said Michael Palladino from Detective's Endowment Association. That's unfair."

Back to death threats against Michael Oliver, police say high ranking gang member actually threaten to have an associate shoot Oliver at the courthouse during one of the hearings in retaliation for Sean Bell's death, so obviously there was a lot of security.

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