The mother and family of Army National Guardsman Noel Polanco spoke for the first time since a Queens grand jury decided not to indict the NYPD detective who shot and killed him during a traffic stop in October.
Cecilia Reyes keeps a photograph of her son, Noel Polanco, on a necklace close to her heart.
"It's just hard – it's hard. No one can ever imagine the pain … it's hard," Reyes says. "For his life to be taken away so quickly, it makes no sense."
A grieving mother spoke publicly for the first time since a Queens grand jury decided not to pursue criminal charges against the NYPD officer who killed her son.
"It's still murder to me, it's still murder."
The Polanco family was receiving support and encouragement while appearing at Rev. AL Sharpton's National Action Network in Harlem.
"It's wrong. The guy has his badge and gun. Go back to work with no reason – it's not fair," said Naomi Francisco, a friend of Polanco's.
Detective Hassan Hamdy fired the fatal shot last October during a traffic stop on the Grand Central Parkway. Sources say the officer fired after he saw Polanco reaching under his seat for a weapon, a witness in the car said the unarmed Army Reservists' hands were on the steering wheel -- there was no gun in the car.
Micheal Palladino of the Detectives Endowment Association saying earlier "I was optimistic there would not be an indictment because our detective never intended to commit a crime or take someone's life."
Noel Polanco was a National Guardsman and aspiring policeman. Now that a grand jury decided not to indict the officer who killed him, his family says they want to file a civil suit in federal court.
"I don't feel like anyone should go through this. If I can get some kind of help – I won't give up," said Reyes.
Detective Hassan Hamdy could still face departmental charges following an internal review.
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:57 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:57:40 GMT
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:26 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:26:29 GMT
The NYPD are looking for the suspect who shot and killed a 14-year-old girl on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on Sutphin and Rockaway Boulevard
The NYPD are looking for the suspect who shot and killed a 14-year-old girl on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on Sutphin and Rockaway Boulevard
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:47 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:47:54 GMT
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:06:34 GMT
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:17:42 GMT
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City.
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City. In a report released Thursday, dozens of daycares cited by the Dept. of Health for serious and critical health code violations since 2010, have not fixed the problems and continue to operate without penalty.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-16 03:08:35 GMT
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 9:54 PM EDT2013-05-15 01:54:43 GMT
The FDNY must subject itself to court supervision for five years to ensure it does not discriminate against blacks and Hispanics in its hiring practices, a federal appeals court said.
The FDNY must subject itself to court supervision for five years to ensure it does not discriminate against blacks and Hispanics in its hiring practices, a federal appeals court said.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 3:59 PM EDT2013-05-14 19:59:22 GMT
USDA photo
The tree-killing Asian longhorned beetle has been eradicated from Manhattan and Staten Island, but remains a problem in Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of Long Island.
The tree-killing Asian longhorned beetle has been eradicated from Manhattan and Staten Island, but remains a problem in Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of Long Island, according to state agriculture officials.
WTXF-TV 330 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-2796
