Pubdate: Sun, 30 Jul 2000
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company
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Author: William K. Rashbaum

OFFICER DENIES RACE PLAYED ROLE IN KILLING OF UNARMED BLACK MAN

The undercover narcotics detective who shot and killed Patrick M.
Dorismond, an unarmed black security guard, on a Midtown sidewalk in
March said in a statement released yesterday that race had played no
role in the shooting.

"As an Hispanic American, I am personally aware of the skepticism that
some members of the minority community feel toward the criminal
justice system," said the statement by Detective Anthony Vasquez, who
was cleared by a grand jury on Thursday in Mr. Dorismond's death.

The statement was released by Detective Vasquez's lawyer, Philip
Karasyk, who said it was a response to a rally held yesterday in
Brooklyn to protest the grand jury's action.

Detective Vasquez's statement said, "I urge every concerned citizen to
withhold judgment until they have read the grand jury report.

"I truly believe that, after reading the report, every fair-minded
person will conclude that I acted appropriately under the
circumstances, and that my actions were in no way influenced by the
race, color or creed of Patrick Dorismond."

Mr. Dorismond's family has suggested that the shooting had racial
overtones and has called for a federal civil rights
investigation.

Angry at the grand jury's decision, about 100 people marched in
Brooklyn yesterday from Mr. Dorismond's elementary school, Public
School 92 on Parkside Avenue in Flatbush, to Holy Cross Roman Catholic
Church, where his funeral was held.

In contrast to the funeral, which drew about 5,000 people and spiraled
into clashes between the police and protesters, there were no
incidents at yesterday's demonstration.

It was clear that the police and the event's organizers were both
expecting more participants yesterday. The Police Department would not
say how many officers had been assigned to the demonstration, but
hundreds were stationed along the march route, significantly
outnumbering the protesters.
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