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Cop Who Shot At Sean Bell Says He'll "Pursue Higher Education" With $55K Pension


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Mar 27, 2012

Modified Mar 27, 2012


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Photograph taken in December 2006 by Casa de Darnoc on Flickr

 


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Mar 27, 2012

Modified Mar 27, 2012


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Two of the three NYPD officers who were allowed to resign with their pensions following a department judge's ruling that they had acted inappropriately in the 2006 killing of Sean Bell signed their walking papers yesterday. Marc Cooper, who fired five bullets at Bell, told the Post that he plans to "pursue higher education" with his annual payments of $55,000. "In the Police Department, you learn that you don't make any comments until after you receive your first pension check," Cooper said.

Former Detective Michael Oliver, who fired 31 bullets at Bell, will receive $40,000 a year, with payments beginning in two years. He declined to comment to reporters, but was "grimly smiling" in the Post's photo (we're not sure how "forbidding or uninviting" the smile is). Lt. Gary Napoli, who fired no shots at Bell but was the supervising officer, is scheduled to resign today.

Gescard Isnora was fired from his position as a detective after a department trial ruled that he was primarily responsible for Bell's death. Isnora was the first officer to open fire on Bell and his friends, and caused "contagious firing" among other officers at the scene. He will not receive a pension.

Tagged

excessive force

gescard isnora

marc cooper

michael oliver

nypd

sean bell


Christopher Robbins

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Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.

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