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Gov. endorses tests for cops involved in shootings

BY KEITH HERBERT | keith.herbert@newsday.com

9:33 PM EDT, May 8, 2008

Gov. David A. Paterson met Thursday with Sean Bell's family at his office in Manhattan, where he endorsed a proposal to test officers involved in shootings for alcohol or drugs. The reform has been sought by activists after Bell's 50-shot slaying in 2006.

After speaking with Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell, and with Bell's parents, William and Valerie Bell, at his side, Paterson commended those who protested without violence Wednesday and gave his "deepest sympathies" to the Bell family for Sean Bell's death.

A news conference followed the half-hour meeting, which included the Rev. Al Sharpton, who led the widespread protests following the April 25 not-guilty verdict in the justifiable-homicide trial of three New York City police detectives. During the protests, more than 220 people were arrested, including Sharpton and Paultre Bell, most for disorderly conduct.

"I think it's important that the governor set the tone," Sharpton said. "No one should be insensitive to the loss this family has had to endure."

Paterson announced he would support legislation that would require officers involved in shootings to be tested for alcohol or drug consumption.

However, Paterson stopped short of fully endorsing another reform initiative sought by Sharpton and a state senator: a permanent, statewide special prosecutor to investigate police corruption and misconduct.

On Wednesday, demonstrators acted "in a way that certainly demonstrated a lot of values in terms of putting the issue above momentary exultation and excitement of that kind of event," Paterson said.

But Paterson also said that as a public servant, he couldn't condone the civil disobedience that backed up traffic for blocks during the afternoon rush hour. "We represent all the people," said Paterson, a state senator from Harlem before he became governor.

Paterson, who was also joined by Laura Harper, Nicole's mother, and state Sen. Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, said he understood the family's feeling that other avenues of "redress had failed them."

"So they felt they had no other choice than to take the action that they took," Paterson said. "And I respect the decision that they made to take that action." Sharpton and other reformers have called for officer alcohol and drug testing in the wake of Bell's killing. The officers involved in the Bell shooting were tested under the directive of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

As for a special prosecutor, State Sen. Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn) recently sent proposed legislation to Paterson for consideration.

"In this particular case, what I thought was confusing about the proposal is that it speaks to future cases," Paterson said of the special prosecutor proposal. Paterson said he'd like to give federal investigators a chance to review the Bell case for possible violations of civil rights laws, and the New York City Police Department more time to look into the Bell officers' actions.

Still, "We'll take a look at it," Paterson said of the special prosecutor proposal.