Experts say Mayor spoke too soon

NEW YORK – Law enforcement experts said New York City’s mayor spoke prematurely in saying police used “excessive force” in unleashing a 50-shot barrage that killed an unarmed man outside a strip club.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg labelled the shooting “unacceptable” and “inexplicable” while meeting Monday with community leaders and the victim’s family. But experts who have studied the use of deadly force by police said the confusing circumstances of the incident suggested the mayor’s conclusions were premature.The amount of firepower, they said, has been given too much emphasis.”The number of shots fired doesn’t mean anything, even though it seems a little shocking,” Jim Cohen, a professor of criminal law at Fordham Law School, said Tuesday.”We simply don’t have enough information to draw any conclusions.”The five shooters – four detectives and one police officer – have been placed on administrative leave during an investigation into the death of 23-year-old Sean Bell.Most of the shooters have remained silent, though lawyers and union officials have said at least some of them are eager to tell their side of the story to a grand jury.The undercover detective who was the first to open fire has made a statement through his lawyer, according to a report published Wednesday.Attorney Philip Karasyk told the Daily News that the detective, whose name was withheld, says he identified himself as a police officer and initially held his fire, even after being clipped by Bell’s car.Nampa-APBut experts who have studied the use of deadly force by police said the confusing circumstances of the incident suggested the mayor’s conclusions were premature.The amount of firepower, they said, has been given too much emphasis.”The number of shots fired doesn’t mean anything, even though it seems a little shocking,” Jim Cohen, a professor of criminal law at Fordham Law School, said Tuesday.”We simply don’t have enough information to draw any conclusions.”The five shooters – four detectives and one police officer – have been placed on administrative leave during an investigation into the death of 23-year-old Sean Bell.Most of the shooters have remained silent, though lawyers and union officials have said at least some of them are eager to tell their side of the story to a grand jury.The undercover detective who was the first to open fire has made a statement through his lawyer, according to a report published Wednesday.Attorney Philip Karasyk told the Daily News that the detective, whose name was withheld, says he identified himself as a police officer and initially held his fire, even after being clipped by Bell’s car.Nampa-AP