Cop Who Shot And Killed Pace Student Named Officer Of The Year

Henry Sr.: We've Asked For Truth And Received Arrogance

April 13, 2011 8:54 PM

Danroy ‘DJ’ Henry (credit: Personal Photo)

Filed under

Heard On 1010 WINS, WCBS, WFAN, Local, News, NY News, Watch + Listen

PLEASANTVILLE, NY (CBSNewYork/AP) – A police union has given its Officer of the Year award to the policeman who shot and killed a college football player during a disturbance in Westchester last October.

Parents of the student, 20-year-old Danroy Henry Jr., of Easton, Mass., called the award insensitive and arrogant.

“We simply asked for truth and honesty, and we’ve gotten arrogance,” said Danroy Henry Sr. “Some people see themselves above the law and above simple human dignity.”

The student’s mother, Angella Henry, said: “Now everyone else is getting to see the kind of inhumane treatment we’ve gotten.”

WCBS 880′s Catherine Cioffi with Angella Henry

“I think that the people in Westchester County should be worried. This is what happens when an officer kills someone,” said Angella Henry.

WCBS 880′s Catherine Cioffi With Reaction From The Mayor

The Police Benevolent Association of the Pleasantville Police Department said Wednesday it honored Officer Aaron Hess for his dignity and professionalism since the October shooting and throughout his career.

Hess fired at Henry’s car as Henry drove away from a disturbance that spilled out of a bar in Thornwood, just north of New York City, after Pace University’s homecoming game on Oct. 17, 2010. Hess was cleared of criminal wrongdoing by a Westchester County grand jury in February.

Autopsy results found Henry was above the legal limit for alcohol, but his family says he wasn’t drunk.

Hess, who suffered leg injuries, said he shot at Henry after Henry’s car hit him. Some witnesses disputed that.

The Henry family is seeking federal intervention, and the Department of Justice has said it will review the evidence to determine whether there were any civil rights crimes.

The Henrys are planning a $120 million lawsuit against Pleasantville and Mount Pleasant.

The PBA said the award wasn’t meant to offend the Henry family.

But family lawyer Michael Sussman said, “They’re offended.”

Do you feel the award was in bad taste? Do you think Officer Hess is, indeed, deserving? Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Cop Who Shot And Killed Pace Student Named Officer Of The Year

jeffboogie

The question here that is being asked is it in bad taste for the police union to be giving an award to this particular officer………I say it is……Until ALL of the investigations are completed, state and federal…..He should not be getting an award….I know I wouldnt be getting one if I was up for investigation……….I remember going to college 20+ years ago and there were disturbances after parties where cops were called, but I don’t remember anyone being shot…Sadly this young man made 2 possibly three poor decisions that cost him his life. A) Drinking while underage B) Hanging around a situation that you dont need to be around and C) Not staying put when the cops arrive on the scene……We sadly need to teach our young people that some cops will shoot first and ask questions later

Rodin

“Fashion exists for women with no taste, etiquette for people with no breeding.” – Queen Marie of Romania

doc

nice one, Rodin.
Rodin

Why…, thank you, doc. I’m not used to compliments here, receiving or giving.

RichieT

The age limit for alcohol is not for drinking. It’s for being able to legally buy it. When I grew-up it was 18. Now It’s 21 in almost, if not all, the states. That’s because of having to meet a minimum age requirement to be able to receive Federal money for street and road repairs.

wave

Stop being so ignorant about police real life. Police officers have to deal with criminal shooting at them, trying to run them over or trying to kill them everyday. He shot back and killed him, tough luck. If you are drunk you dont drive, if police stops you, you stop, dont try to run them over. Stop being so simplistic and ignorants and try to survive one day as police officers. Everything is not racial related. What if he had killed the police officer? He was drunk, got into a fight, try to scape in a car and injured an officer… he got shot? too bad.

mj

a lot of WHAT IF’s there
RichieT

Read the article before you stick your neck out. He shot him while he was driving AWAY, not AT the cop. That’s called “murder” in any dictionary I’ve ever read
Shirley

He was not in a fight, not even in the bar, he was in his car and an officer told him to move out of no parking zone, when he did the other policeman shot at him. He jumped on the hood of the car, and shot. period……That is the story. No camera’s worked in any of the cars….REALLY…….When they searched his car they found, a pepsi, a basketball, a new football jersey he had just bought. Why not shoot the tires, or follow him it is a very small town. This is a terrible tragedy and to reward Officer Hess at this time is an insullt to DJ’s family..

Bob

what a bunch of f’n idiots. Even if the guy was the best cop in the world, just for public relations sake, you wouldn’t give him this honor at this time. If they make judgement decisions like this with plenty of time to think about it, it makes me wonder about their judgment when they have to make a split decision…..shameful.

Rodin

So PC and PR should trump merit? “Shameful.”

FU2

THIS IS NOTHING NEW. COPS, ESPECIALLY WHITE COPS, DO THIS ALL THE TIME TO SPIT IN BLACK PEOPLE’S FACES AFTER THEY MURDER US. i WONDER IF OBAMA WILL HAVE THIS COP OVER TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR BEERS TO CELEBRATE HIS AWARD? i ALSO WONDER WHY BLACK COPS DONT SHOOT MORE WHITE SUSPECTS? OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL BE CLEARED AND GIVEN AN AWARD…OR WILL THEY? IF ANYONE DIDNT KNOW THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN THEN YOU ARE A FOOL. ITS ALWAYS BEEN OK FOR COPS TO MURDER BLACK PEOPLE. IN THE LAST 20 YEARS IT HAS BECOME FASHIONABLE. YOU EVEN HAVE BLACK COPS DOING IT. THEY KNOW WE WILL PROTEST, MARCH, ETC…BUT THEY ALSO KNOW WE HAVE NO POWER…COULD YOU IMAGINE IF THESE POLICE MURDERS HAPPENED TO A WHITE GIRL OR BOY OR A HASIDIC? THEY TRANSFERED A WHITE COP FOR GIVING A HASIDIC A TICKET. THERE WAS A HASIDIC RIOT IN BROOKLYN AND NO HEADS WERE CRACKED OPEN, NO ONE SHOT AND ONE PERSON ARRESTED ( AND HE SAID A WHITE COP SAID “NOW WE HAVE TO TREAT YOU LIKE THE N*****S).. THEY KNOW THAT THE MARCHING AND PROTEST WILL DIE DOWN AND THE PARENTS WILL TAKE THE COUPLE OF MILLIONS (LOOK AT THE LA EPISODE). IT IS WHAT IT IS. THE ONLY REASON THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE MURDERS ON THE REGULAR IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A BLACK PREZ AND A BLACK ATTORNEY GENERAL. IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS STOP YOU HAVE TO HIT THEM IN THE POCKET BOOK. UNTIL THEN WHEN YOUR BLACK SON GOES OUT….YES…HE MIGHT NOT COME BACK..

Rodin

Your shift key get stuck or did you mean to make an impression?

TomNJ

Cops don’t shoot more white suspects because there simply are more black suspects out there. Simple math.

det

what are you gonna do in 2 years when your “prez” gets sent back to be a community organizer

hates cops like this

I think this young man was innocent. Cops do this all the time and get away with it. I totally agree that this situation could’ve been handled differently. Its kind of funny that there are no police recordings of this incident. I think this cop should get the death penalty!!!! Its a damn shame!!!!

Rodin

Heads of lettuce are innocent.

BROWN

Robiin; as you may know or have noticed; all comments to this news story are being screened for several hours before comments are posted. I have responded to your last lame comments and I tried posting on numerous occasions, but comments are being jailed fro screening…that’s another step backwards

no freedom of speech here!
Rodin

“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can’t really be held responsible for what they do.

“But we can.”

JON KATZ/”The Dogs of Bedlam Farm”

Still no answer: are you black, Brown?

Why Shaggy

Talk to a cops family and they will tell you nothing but good things. Talk to someone who has gotten a ticket
and they will tell you nothing but bad things…
We are them and they are us. Case closed
Dom

If a cop had shot a drunk Bush Jr. or Mel Gibson, that cop would’ve been fired…but because it’s a “nobody”, this cop gets an award….shame!!!

rk68

I think his family would take offense to you calling him a “nobody”…

The devil is real

Who will make war with the beast? God says vengeance is mine. They think they are indestructible, but you saw what happened in Japan. Just wait and see America, just wait.

Rodin

The ‘fire and brimstone’ nuts have arrived!

KEEP YOUR FAITHS OUT OF MY FACE!

letona

If you drink and drive the cops will kill you

Rodin

You mean “drive INTO the cops.”
same ‘ol boys club

I read that police told him to move his car. He obeyed although he “allegedly” was drunk. He cannot say for sure because he is dead. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t – because of the type of person who was standing before him. Another officer may not have whipped a gun out. Another officer maybe would have addressed the actual disturbance call, and checked the bar, not the few black men in a car not actively involved in the fracas. I still have not heard who was arrested for the “reported” disturbance. FYI there are not a lot of blacks that go to that area. I know it for a fact. Cops stopped someone I KNOW for sitting in a car within 5 miles of that area. They did not like how he wore his baseball cap. No probable cause, he was just a little darker than the usual slackers hanging about so it was worthy of questioning him. He was picking up baby sis from school. Thankfully he was not a statistic. If more kids were not so scared of those cops, more stories of abuses would come out. But not enough black youngsters there who would fight back in the first place. And the ones that are there are in a threatening situation if they choose to challenge that.

WHy does someone have to die for obeying police even when drunk? Anyone who does not see this is *not* something the victim (Mr. Henry) should be blamed for (let alone murdered for) is in DENIAL, to put it mildly. You don’t need to be murdered for being drunk. *PERIOD* Let’s not waste our time trying to convince the unfair/Deny-ers/uncivil/petty/inhumane of their own crimes and shortcomings. They are not worthy of our words. God will correct them, with time.

The VERY LEAST Mr. hess should be convicted of is manslaughter. Sorry. And I have never had a negative encounter with an officer. But I am not a black male around a bunch of white males at an Irish bar, either. For him to be officer of the year is a slap in the face and yes- Quite Arrogant. Shows just how safe and insulated they feel. No worries. They will do as they please, and WE WILL LIKE IT. Yeah, right. Pleasantville- NOT SO PLEASANT for everyone. Unless you are white. PBA doing that shows the *fairminded* residents just what their future tax hikes will be paying for….LAWSUITS. Idiots. So when it costs money, best believe people will correct that. It will take a few years though.

Mike L

You don’t know what the F you are talking about. I live in Pleasantville. I know the facts. Henry drove his car into the police officer. You wrote a lot but have nothing to offer.
The Real Devenio

Mike L, you stupid POS! Because you live in the area, you presume to know the facts? You are a idiot. Please go back to you Klan buddies.
RobK

same ol’ boys club…Are you an idiot?? They can still get the BAC after someone is dead…You do know what an autopsy is yea??

tam

Giving an award in this particular case screams of insensitivity. Whether or not there was legal justification is not the issue. The family is looking for some closure and respect and the department is looking to move forward. This was NOT a clear cut case and a lot of GRAY surrounded this incident. The PBA should have shown more class. This kinda makes civilians think “look see…I told you”. Its too bad.

Rodin

Closure for this family would come by admitting their darling “DJ” was a drunken, brawling hoodlum.

belltoller

Congratulations Officer Hess

Joe

cop lover

Rodin

…. while partying, rioting, football hero, thug Henry is an inspiration and example to all and his criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, teammate buddies got off scott free.

WRONG, MR. MAYOR!

BROWNN

Robin, you continue to post hatred and spew your raist comments on blog after blog.. go kick rocks!

Rodin

‘Raist’ or not, facts are facts. Punks are punks. You’re the ‘raist’. Why don’t you answer my question of days ago?

Are you black, ‘brownn’?

BTW, what’s “RAIST”? Can’t even spell your name…. Pfft!
Rodin

PS –

Guess you can’t read either, RoDin, like the French sculptor, NOT RoBin.

But then, how would YOU know?
voiceofreason

How dare you!!! Mispronounce Rodins name???? This person is a legend on cbs news forums!
Rodin

Misreading and misspelling, not ‘Mispronouncing”. It’s what happens when you drop out of school before you get to learn anything. Kinda like ‘misnaming’, your problem.

Sloppy!

disgusting

you’re disgusting.
Cliffy

Why didn’t the Parents teach their 20 year old, not to drink before turning 21?
Why didn’t the parents teach their 20 year old not to get behind the wheel while the underthe influence of “anything”? Why didn’t they teach their 20 year old not to try and run “anyone” over with the car, nevermind a Police Officer?
Why didn’t the Parents teach their 20 year old to call them is they got into a bad situation?
It is not the fault of the Officers for the actions of the 20 year old. That’s the fault of the Parents.

Anonymous

I agree 100%. I’m glad to hear a voice of reason.
Penny

It is not the parents fault. Can you just see this is a sad situation. There are teens who are not even near 20years old that are drinking. And none of us were at the scene that night so we don’t exactly know what happen. We are just stuck with information giving on the news that still do not add up. And question this..Why didn’t the police officer give them a ticket or tell them to call a cab? Or even Just Talk?This situation could had been handle differently.
Student

Your an ignorant idiot, he was’t drunk or under the influence of anything. He didn’t try to run over anyone he was asked to move his vehicle which happened at all of 5 miles per hour. Get the facts straight you disgusting disgracs to human kind.

BROWN

Student, I agree with you; some of these folks are only speaking from their hate filled racist mouths…know the facts before rushing to honoring a murderer.

Know the facts; stop trying to kill off all the black race!
Anonymous

The subject’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.13, the official said. The legal limit for driving in New York is 0.08. That’s the fact.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20021231-504083.html
Rodin

‘You’re’ not “Your”, you “ignorant idiot”!

…and get your facts straight…, if you can.

BTW, what’s “disgracs”?

Spark

You sound like a fool. Your logic is flawed. This young man came from a wonderful background. I know just about the majority of my University Campus classmates party and get drunk and the majority of them are underage. I’ve seen or read out right murders or killers get better treatment than this Pace Student got from police. Plus, New York State has a history of this kind of killing style. You need to check all your facts before writing your opinion.

BROWN

I agree! I understabd that the folks hat are pointing their hands in the air celebrating are the same ones that hide in the night roaming the streets with sheets on their heads trying to kill another black man or mexican..

Go figure, these are the modern day KKK members.

Don’t get me wrong; I do not hate cops; I despise racist fools and these cops that continue to harm our kids/relatives with excessive force and killing them then saying their life was at stake…what have we learned over the years with all of these cop killings of innocent black/minority individuals; nothing positive…the only thing we have learned is that there will be another disgraceful killing of another minority by the police/murders in the future and they will be forgiven by their commanders.

ThinkPinkPanther

Question? There were numerous officers on the scene. Why? Why? Not one officers’ vehicle have a dash camera video recording. Why? I just want to know why all of their dash cameras were turned off upon arrival to a scene they were called to and fully aware to what type of scene they were approaching?
FU2

DO YOU HAVE A SON CLIFFY? LETS SAY YOU ARE RIGHT ..AND YOU ARE I AGREE. BUT YOU WERE 20 ONCE (OBVIOUSLY A LONG TIME AGO OR YOU STILL ARE). LETS SAY YOUR SON DOES THIS SO BAD THING OF DRINKING AT 20 INSTEAD OF 21. YOUR SONE IS IN THE VICINITY OF A FIGHT AND TRIES TO GET AWAY. IIN THE CONFUSION HE IS IN HIS CAR AND TRIES TO PULL OFF. A COP JUMPS ON THE HOOD AND SHHOTS HIM. THE COP IS NOT INJURED REALLY BUT YOUR SON IS DEAD…NOT GOOD ENOUGH…LETS SAY IT WAS A BLACK COP? I BET THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE…DOECNT IT CLIFFY?

Rodin

Still have your shift stuck?

RichieT

The reason the legal age to sell alcohol in this country is 21, is because of a Federal road and highway plan that requires it to be 21 in order to qualify..It’s not totally about safety. It does make a big difference, but mostly it’s about money. I’m 53. When I grew up, in NY, the legal age was 18. The town the college I went to was in had TWO colleges. There were 14 bar’s, or restaurants with bars, within 1.5 miles. The 21 year old minimum age law closed 6 of them
The Real Devenio

Cindy, I bet you have no kids. If you did you would know that for some reason, they have a mind of their own and will do what they wish once out of mommy and daddy’s eye. Blaming the parents for what the kids do… Can be kill Bernie Madoffs parents?

Tasteless

Tasteless, period !
Joe

I’m awhite male 48 years old, everybody enjoys talking s***, a 20 yearold boy college boy lost his life. I know at 20 i would go out drinking with my friends always, this dont make him a criminal. Now put yourself in the cops shoes, someones coming at him with a car. if you never walked the beat shut your mouth. its a sad situation.

Anonymous

Drinking and driving makes him a criminal. The subject had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit.

TomNJ

Off with their heads!!
The Real Devenio

Prove it.

phil

look i am a freak the only thing that is still is she wmen xxx
Justice for all.

Uh, April, if you rune me over with your car on purpose I will assume you are trying to kill me. How do you know these Police Officers are Racists, by your statment I have to assume you are a Bigot against the Police who protect you. If God will provide justice I shutter to think where this young man is after he tried to kill a Police Officer. A Car can kill you just like a gun can, so your unarmed nonsense is just that, nonsense.

natturner

None of this behavior by an appropriately Nazi-named cop and his sympathizers should come as a surprise. Deal with it the way you deal with anyone terrorizing your community…With Extreme Prejudice and By Any Means Necessary.

Like it is.

Cos, what Alternate Universe do you live in. That is not what happened. If he left the Bar when punches were thrown he had plenty of time to leave the area before the police arrived in the parking lot. He stayed for reasons we will never know and then in a panic drove his car into a Police Officer who responded by shooting him. Personal Bias should not come to pay here, the facts are the facts and supposition should not come into it.
2 cents

you all forget that Henry was drunk. Underage and over the limit. Who said the officer was in plain clothes? if Henry obeyed the law and was not at the bar in the first place, he would be alive.

Imagine this. you are standing by a car and it suddenly accelerates and you find yourself on a hood of a car. what would you do?
tpain

wait so he did not try to run the cop down,he was just there sitting in his car sleeping or chilling.?And the cop just felt like killing a black man that day.well that is pretty bad then.
Cos

Picture this scenario… A ‘bar fight’ breaks out… You’re an innocent in all this. You immediately exit the premises and enter your vehicle. You start your car and realize the bar fight has escalated and is now all around you. Punches being thrown, as well as anything that may not be ‘nailed-down’… You see some police presence (uniformed officers) but they are not immediately near you. Someone in regular clothes knocks on your window and tells you to move your car now! Uncertain of what to do next, you hesitate and find that moving out of there is probably the right thing to do. You pull out of the parking spot and begin to try to move your vehicle through a still rowdy crowd. You inadvertantly hit someone with your vehicle – not knowing who it was. The next – and last thing – you hear is a loud ‘crack’ and the windshield breaks. That’s it… This scenario is as close to the truth of what actually happened that night as what any of the officers there would voice. Of course, their word is golden. Again, Police officers have the toughest job, but this is a horrible thing that the officer in question receives an award for his service. I personally believe that the scenario I gave above is probably what happened. I’ve been unfortunate enough to be a witness to a brawl similar to the one this guy was witness to. Let me tell you… Things happen very quickly. If you haven’t been a witness to one of these, you shouldn’t voice an opinion, either way.

Anonymous

Your third sentence invalidates your entire post. The subject had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit. If the subject attempts to drive away in a vehicle, he is already guilty of DWI.
BROWN

thank you vey much for your post Cos!
Emoney

Whats so hard about cease and assit? Cant you conduct yourself in an orderly manner? Just stop what you are doing!! If a bar fight breaks out and there are cops there you automatically stop what you are doing!!!! The last thing you do is get in your car and drive away.

Rodin

Don’t mean to disrespect you and I agree with your comment but, what’s “assit”? You must mean “cease and DEs_iSt”.

SPELLCHECK, ANYONE?!?!?!?!

magician

You are missing a key know fact. Your “Innocent” was driving his vehicle at twice the legal limit for alcohol and Oh yes, he was under the legal age to drink…

April

Are you serious? “The person who tried to kill the police officers?” How about the unarmed young black man, who had so much taken from him because of racist police officers who are quick to pull the trigger because they know they can easily get away with it for now. Don’t worry God will provide the true JUSTICE. RIP Danroy Henry.
Trishe

DISCUSTING!!!! He’s getting an award for killing an innocent person instead of jail time??

Bell Toller

He did not kill an innocent person. This person came after Officer Hess with his car.
Stop making this racial already.

DCOnEdge

Oh Bell Toller, you were there! Great! Then we can clear this whole mess up

The story says that witnesses, at the scene, disputed the officer’s version that he was hit by the car. But those witnesses didn’t get a good look like you did, huh? Hopefully that award comes with a large cash prize too!

Rodin

Cabbages are innocent.

DCOnEdge

WOW Rodin, YOU were there too!?! Do you know Bell Toller? hahaha!!! it’s funny that BOTH of you were witnesses to this incident!!! The story says that witnesses, at the scene, disputed the officer’s version that he was hit by the car. But those witnesses weren’t standing with you and Bell Toller and didn’t get a good look like you two did! Maybe the photo actually depicts…dare i say it?…A VICTIM!! But they don’t make victims with that much color in their skin, do they?
Rodin

I inform myself and I WAS there when the cabbages were conceived and planted. I can bare witness to their innocence.

Also, “Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can’t really be held responsible for what they do.
But we can.” – JON KATZ/”The Dogs of Bedlam Farm”

I don’t get it!

I have to agree that this honor seems questionable, but why is the photo shown the person who tried to kill Police Officers?

DCOnEdge

WOW I don’t get it, YOU were there too!?! Do you know Bell Toller? hahaha!!! it’s funny that BOTH of you were witnesses to this incident!!! The story says that witnesses, at the scene, disputed the officer’s version that he was hit by the car. But those witnesses weren’t standing with you and Bell Toller and didn’t get a good look like you two did! Maybe the photo actually depicts…dare i say it?…A VICTIM!! But they don’t make victims with that much color in their skin, do they?

1 2 3 4 Next »

News

Cop Who Shot And Killed Pace Student Named Officer Of The Year

Henry Sr.: We've Asked For Truth And Received Arrogance

April 13, 2011 8:54 PM

Filed under

Related tags

Latest News Video

Summertime = Fun Time!

Help Shape The Debates

At Harmon Meadow 6/15

Great Networking Event

Select a Live Stream

News, Sports and Talk Radio

Music Radio