Current Status:

On May 20th, 2008, the New York Police Department announced that internal investigations would commence against seven officers acquitted in the November 2006 slaying of Sean Bell. According to The New York Times (see "Officers Face Departmental Charges in Bell Killing"), the investigation has been suspended and will not formally resume until the U.S. Department of Justice determines whether or not to pursue criminal civil rights charges against the officers.


Gescard F. Isnora:

The most serious charges confront Isnora, who is largely blamed for Bell's death. Isnora has been charged with discharging his firearm outside of department guidelines, as well as compromising the undercover investigation in which he was participating at the time of the shooting.

Michael Oliver and Marc Cooper:

Oliver and Cooper, the other two officers previously indicted for the death of Sean Bell, have been charged with discharging their firearms outside of department guidelines.

Michael Carey:

Carey, a fourth officer implicated in the shooting but not previously indicted, has been charged with discharging his firearm outside of department guidelines.

Hugh McNeil and Robert Knapp:

McNeil and Knapp, members of the NYPD's crime scene unit, have been charged for failing to process the crime scene in a manner consistent with department guidelines.

Gary Napoli:

Lt. Napoli, the ranking officer present at the time of the shooting, has been charged with failing to oversee the officers under his command.