On November 13th, 2008, one Gilberto Blanco, a 45-year-old unemployed and homeless construction worker, got caught trying to break into a car in a church parking lot. When officers Dawn Ortiz and India Archie confronted Blanco, he allegedly came at them with a metal chair. They ordered Blanco to drop the chair in English and Spanish, but he continued to charge at them, and Oritz says that when he got within a foot from her she shot him dead . For their conduct that day, the NYPD’s Holy Names Society presented them with “Cop of the Year” awards, at a ceremony attended by Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. But now, two years later, they face disciplinary action over the shooting. The Daily News reports that an NYPD review of the Brooklyn shooting found no violation of NYPD guidelines, but recommended retraining in “less-than-lethal devices dealing with persons with dangerous instruments.” When Ortiz and Archie refused to accept the discipline, which also came with penalties ranging from a verbal reprimand to the loss of up to 10 vacation days, they were brought up on more formal charges and now face a departmental trial. Meanwhile, Blanco’s estate has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Ortiz of “wanton disregard for the safety, health and well-being of the decedent.” The NYPD’s position is that the officers should have tried pepper spray and/or swung a baton before shooting. Over on the NYPD Rant chat room , one wag asks, “They didn’t offer a hug first before shooting? Shame on them!”

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Cops Face Trial For Not Pepper-Spraying Perp Before Shooting