grand jury

03-13-08
Spano, Belfiore, DiFiore, and Young react to Grand Jury's decision on Detective Ridley's killing
According to a grand jury responsible for investigating the killing of Detective Christopher Ridley, the four Westchester County police officers committed no crime when they shot and killed Ridley while he was subduing and pointing a gun at a homeless perpetrator.
Westchester County Executive, Andy Spano, Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Belfiore, Westchester County District Attorney, Janet DiFiore and Mayor Clinton I. Young have all provided statements to the press.

STATEMENT FROM COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANDY SPANO ON GRAND JURY FINDINGS
“This has been a terrible tragedy for everyone involved: Officer Ridley, his family, the Mount Vernon Police community and the officers who were the subject of today’s Grand Jury decision,’’ said County Executive Andy Spano. “The Grand Jury has found that the officers acted in a manner that was proper based on what was known at the time. That said, the best way to honor the memory of this brave, young man is to make sure that we take a hard look at training and procedure to make sure this never, ever happens again. We have already put together an internal working group of respected experts to examine procedures within the Westchester County Police training as well as what is taught to recruits at our police academy.’’

STATEMENT FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER THOMAS BELFIORE
“Today the grand jury issued its findings. We respect the grand jury’s hard work and those findings. As I have said previously, the death of Detective Ridley was a horrible tragedy for the Ridley family, the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Mount Vernon community and all in the law enforcement community. Our officers here at the Department of Public Safety continue to live with the pain of what occurred. It is everyone’s desire that we do all that we can to make sure this does not happen again. One of the ways we have to work toward that end is training. Consequently, we have already commenced a training review work group that includes representatives of academia, law enforcement, police fraternal organizations and the Mount Vernon community. This group will review the Use of Force training and tactics taught at the Westchester Police Academy. Their thoughtful recommendations, which we expect within 60 days, will help us ensure a similar tragedy does not happen again,” said Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Belfiore.

DA Janet DiFiore:

I have complete faith and confidence in the process that led to Tuesday’s decision by a Westchester County Grand Jury in the tragic shooting death of Mount Vernon Police Detective Christopher Ridley.

The Grand Jury heard from sixty two witnesses, including forty five civilians, who witnessed some portion of the events which occurred on Court Street.

Sixteen of the civilian witnesses were in or about the plaza in front of 85 Court Street, some only a few feet away when the shooting occurred. Seventeen others were inside office buildings watching from their windows as events unfolded below them. Twelve other civilian witnesses were in the general area on the street.

The twenty three Grand Jurors, over eight sessions spanning two months, investigated and considered photographs, all videos which captured portions of the events from cameras positioned in a nearby office building, charts, diagrams and documentary evidence.

The Grand Jury found that, based upon all of the evidence presented, there was no reasonable cause to believe a criminal offense was committed by any of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Police Officers involved in this tragic incident.

Mayor Clinton I. Young

"The City of Mount Vernon still mourns the loss of our local hero Detective Christopher Ridley. We will continue to offer comfort and prayers to support the Ridley family, who are still grieving the loss of their loved one," said Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton I. Young, Jr. "I know that the grand jury's decision brings no solace to a devastated family and community. But, we will continue to stand firmly with the Ridley family and our police department to ensure that such tragedies never happen again."