Cabbie’s kin win civil rights suit
“Our view is that all of the officers involved responded appropriately under the circumstances,” said spokesman Nick Paolucci.
“While this incident ended tragically, we believe these officers strictly adhered to established protocols for dealing with emotionally disturbed persons. Ultimately, they were required to make a split-second decision to use lethal force.”
Bah’s death set off fevered protests, and renewed questions over NYPD procedures in encounters that involve the mentally ill.
Federal prosecutors said in August they would not pursue criminal charges against the officers responsible for gunning down Bah. “Neither accident, mistake, fear, negligence, nor bad judgment is sufficient to establish a federal criminal civil rights violation,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim in Manhattan said at the time.
The fatal confrontation was set in motion when Bah’s mother called 911 because she wanted an ambulance to take the man, who was suffering a mental breakdown, to the hospital.
Cops initially fired Tasers and rubber bullets at Bah, but the knife-wielding West African immigrant kept coming at them, police said.
“He’s stabbing me! Shoot him!” one officer screamed, according to police.
Three officers opened fire in a 10-shot fusillade, striking Bah at least nine times in the arm, chest, abdomen and left side of the head.
“Why this case even went to trial is a mystery to me,” said Randolph McLaughlin, who, with cocounsel Debra Cohen, represented the Bah family.
“There was no excuse for this city and this corporation counsel’s office to put this family through the pain of a trial. They should have just said, ‘Enough.’ ”