Mistaken Identity Deadly As Cop is Killed by Cop

OMAR EDWARDS

An off-duty NYPD Police Officer May 28 was fatally shot in East Harlem by a fellow cop who mistook the gun-wielding officer who was pursuing a car thief for a criminal, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said.

"And while we don't know all of the details of what happened tonight, this is a tragedy," Mayor Bloomberg told reporters at Harlem Hospital Center.

Man Broke Into His Car

According to police, Officer Omar J. Edwards, 25, who had just finished his shift at about 10:30 p.m., was walking to his car when he saw Miguel Goitia rummaging through it. Mr. Edwards struggled with Mr. Goitia, but the suspect was able to spring free by slipping out of his sweater, police said.

In plainclothes with his gun, a Smith and Wesson nine-millimeter, drawn, he chased Mr. Goitia, who police said had five prior arrests, north to 125th St. and then east toward First Ave.

A 25th Precinct Anti-Crime team of two Police Officers and a Sergeant in plainclothes was driving east on 125th St. in an unmarked car when it saw Mr. Edwards chasing the suspect with a gun, police said. The team made an abrupt U-turn towards them.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG: A tragedy born of confusion.

One of the officers, Andrew Dunton, exited the vehicle and fired his ninemillimeter Glock six times at Officer Edwards, who had no visible NYPD identification, police said. Mr. Edwards, a two-year veteran of the department was shot in the arm and in the chest after the Mr. Dunton identified himself and Mr. Edwards didn't drop his gun, according to the other officer, the Sergeant and a civilian witness, said NYPD spokesman Paul J. Browne.

It is not clear whether Mr. Edwards identified himself before he was shot. The NYPD Patrol Guide states that, "It must be absolutely clear in the minds of all members of service that in any confrontation, the burden of proving identity rests on the CONFRONTED OFFICER whether on or off duty.

A Stunning Discovery

As he lay on the pavement bleeding, police attempted to help him, only to find the recently married father of two was wearing a Police Academy t-shirt and had a badge in his pocket.

The Housing Bureau Impact Response Team officer was taken to Harlem Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead.

"Nothing we can say will bring him back," Mr. Bloomberg told reporters. "We just have to find out what happened and try to do everything we can to keep a tragedy like this from happening again."

The shooting of a black off-duty officer by a white cop has renewed questions of the role of race in police shootings as well as communications between officers on- and off-duty.

The Police Academy plans to produce a new training video focusing on responses during confrontations between on- and off-duty officers, with training in that area to be overseen by an outside consultant, Deputy Commissioner Browne announced. Commissioner Kelly intends to talk to undercover officers about how frequently they've wound up in situations with other police personnel where close calls did not turn into shots being fired to get input on how to avert future tragedies.

The Mayor noted on his Friday morning radio show, "We all know policing is a dangerous job and accidents happen when people have guns in their hands, even legal guns in this case which they are authorized and trained to use."

DA Examining Incident

Mr. Kelly said the department was still investigating the incident but would not interview Officer Dunton, a four-year veteran of the department, until the Manhattan District Attorney determines whether criminal charges are necessary. Police investigators will interview Mr. Santiago and the other officers of the Anti- Crime team.

"On behalf of the entire department, I extend deepest condolences to the family and friends of Officer Edwards," Mr. Kelly said.

This incident was the first shooting of an NYPD Police Officer by another cop since February 2006, when offduty NYPD cop Eric Hernandez, 24, was fatally shot by a fellow officer who responded to a fight at a White Castle in The Bronx. Mr. Hernandez, dazed by a beating administered by other patrons, had drawn his gun and didn't drop it when ordered to by uniformed officers.

Funeral Arrangements

Officer Edwards, who leaves behind a wife and two small children, will have his wake June 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. and June 3 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Woodward Funeral Home, 1 Troy Ave., in Brooklyn. His funeral will be held June 4 at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, 583 Throop Ave., at 10 a.m.