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New NYPD Recruits To Meet With Rev. Al Sharpton, Other Critics

By DNAinfo Staff on February 17, 2010 10:20am  | Updated on February 17, 2010 10:18am

Rev. Al Sharpton testifying at a public session of the governor's Police-on-Police Shooting Task Force in Central Harlem.
Rev. Al Sharpton testifying at a public session of the governor's Police-on-Police Shooting Task Force in Central Harlem.
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DNAinfo/Shayna Jacobs

By Nicole Bode

DNAinfo Associate Editor

MANHATTAN — The NYPD has been putting all its recruits through a new training program in the wake of the Sean Bell police shooting — including a mandatory panel with outspoken police critics like the Rev. Al Sharpton, it was revealed Tuesday.

In its efforts to address criticism after the 2006 shooting, the department has been sending its recruits to a mandatory “no-holds barred session” with Sharpton and other NYPD critics at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, police said.

Rookie police officers are also mandated to meet with community contacts in their first six months.

"Commissioner Kelly also instituted immersion training so that recruits - in addition to existing cultural awareness training in the academy - received intensive training during their last four days before hitting the streets - including no holds barred sessions with NYPD critics like Rev Sharpton at the Apollo, followed by mandatory community contacts during their first six months on patrol," the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information  Paul Browne said in a statement Tuesday.

Undercover NYPD officers shot Sean Bell to death in a hail of 50 bullets as he exited his bachelor party in Queens on Nov. 25, 2006. The 23-year-old Bell was unarmed. Police said they were defending themselves when Bell rammed one of their officers with his car.

The Federal Department of Justice told the Bell family Tuesday afternoon they would not pursue a criminal case.

The NYPD would not comment on the decision, but said it allows the department to move ahead with internal administrative charges against the officers, who are currently on modified duty.

The NYPD also implemented a host of other changes in the department after the shooting, including mandatory alcohol testing after police-involved shootings.