Let me say first there are some great people on this board and I did not in anyway mean to ruffle anyone's feathers with my last post. I read the comments and I didnt expect to create a riot here on DailyKos...that was not my intention at all. However, as a Black female I feel very strongly about police accountability. The police will focus on one crime and one criminal while letting others go free. They will mistreat people purposely and get away with it. There were many things during the Chris Dorner situation I did not want to see and it made me angry. When two ladies were shot in a hail of bullets by 7 officers, that made me very angry and then seeing the whole thing swept under the carpet like it didnt happen with the officers still on the street...I was boiling. In this diary, I will be a little more composed although the issues are so atrocious that there are some on this website that might believe stinging language would most certainly be justified.
Noel Polanco, a patriot and American soldier...a man who served overseas, was shot by NYPD Officer Hassan Hamdy of Centereach, New York with an assault rifle during a traffic stop on Thursday October 4th 2012. Noel Polanco was in a 2012 Honda Fit with tinted windows and 2 passengers. Noel had been drinking and his blood alcohol level was at .15 or twice the legal limit. Prior to being stopped Noel was engaged in some spirited driving on the highway and had cut off an unmarked police van. It surprises me that the NYPD would find this a little unusual in New York City where, on a daily basis, taxi cabs and other cars try to run me off the road about every other day. Noels only crime was DWI on this day and the stop was most certainly warranted in my opinion.
NYPD Officer Hassan Hamdy gets out of the van once they pull the Honda Fit over with his assault rifle aimed at the Honda Fit and is on the passengers side. According to the passenger in Noel's vehicle, prior to the traffic stop, Hassan Hamdy had been flashing his middle finger at the car and was in a state of road-rage.
The following are pictures of a similar Honda Fit. The difference between this particular Fit and Noel's is that Noel had the windows tinted on his vehicle much darker than the example vehicle. Noel had tinted his vehicle to a limo tint where they could not be seen through at all.
Here is a picture of Noel's Honda Fit at the scene. Notice the window tint is so dark that nothing can be seen through it.
Officer Hamdy stated that Noel was disobeying his commands and he saw him reaching under the seat. He did not see a gun, but instead saw Noel reaching under the seat. The passenger witness stated that Noel had his hands on the wheel the entire time and that Hamdy had immediately opened fire at the vehicle within seconds of the car stopping. Here is a picture of whats under the seat on a Honda Fit. Take notice there isnt much room for anything under this seat.
It appears now that Hassan Hamdy was exonerated by the Grand Jury just recently, however, there are still many looming questions. How was Hamdy able to clearly observe Army Sgt Noel Polanco's hands? From the photos I provided, there is no view of the driver at all. It would have been impossible for Hamdy to have seen Polanco. How many officers shoot first when they see a driver during a traffic stop reach for something? Naturally, a driver is going to reach for their registration. Lastly, why did Hamdy approach the vehicle during a traffic stop where the only crime is unsafe driving and speeding with an assault rifle pointed at the vehicle?
I have been stopped a few times in my life for speeding. One time I was driving my friends Corvette. A powerful vehicle where its fairly easy to notice what speed you are going. I was doing 110 mph and this was out in the California desert. A fun time and maybe I shouldnt have been going that speed, but I was pulled over. The CHP had some strong words for me, but I was not placed in handcuffs nor was there ever a pistol which was drawn.
My conclusion is that Noel was in the wrong for drinking and driving unsafely. However, I believe the officer murdered this soldier in a bout of road rage and lied about it. It is to note this isnt the first episode of Mr. Hamdy's. Mr. Hamdy has a record of complaints and civil lawsuits against him with hundreds of thousands paid out to the Plaintiffs.
Last but not least, meet Officer Hamdy. A towering man who could not have seen clearly into the very low to the ground Honda Fit without really stooping over. This man should not be on paid duty right now. My opinion is that there should be a trial so the facts I presented here can be presented. Ultimately, Mr. Hamdy should be fired just as Kenneth Boss should have been fired. It is 100% irresponsible to let this man continue on working for the NYPD.
I know some here feel it wrong to judge people over the internet, but where else can we judge if the justice system refuses to do its job? When the police refuse to do their job? It is forums like this which help us get at the real truth and pressure those in power to do the right thing. In this case, Hamdy walks free and is on a paid vacation kicking back at his home. Looks like he is keeping in great shape on the taxpayers dime.