Family of slain Mt. Vernon cop demands new probe

Community leaders joined the parents of slain Mount Vernon Detective Christopher Ridley to demand a new, independent investigation into his death after a grand jury cleared the four county cops involved.
Ridley?s family, Mount Vernon church leaders and black police officers voiced their outrage Thursday after four Westchester County cops were cleared of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting. They are asking for the attorney general?s office to get involved in the deadly January confrontation. They say the grand jury investigation was too quick and not thorough enough. ?We are extremely disappointed,? says Rev. Franklyn Richardson. ?We feel betrayed [and] outraged and believe the report is a collaboration and cover-up.?Ridley, who was in plain clothes and off duty, was shot to death by police on Jan. 25 after he tried to stop an assault and was mistaken for a criminal. The grand jury report says witnesses testified the four officers shouted at Ridley to drop his gun, but he did not obey, possibly because he did not hear them. They also say Ridley never identified himself as a police officer.
Richardson and members of the United Black Clergy of Westchester say they want answers, adding that they believe the incident wouldn't have happened if Ridley was white. They say a trial would be the only way to find out what really happened to the deceased officer.
Ridley?s mother, Felita Bouche-Rucker, says she still believes her son was "executed." She adds even now the district attorney's office isn't giving her all the information she needs.To view a press conference with Ridley?s family, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and click on iO Extra.