OSSINING, N.Y.�A little more than a year ago, Christopher Malone, a Black man, was shot and killed by three white police officers in this small village town about a half hour�s drive from New York City. Recently, to commemorate the anniversary of the tragedy, the Ossining Citizens Committee Against Police Brutality met at the site where he was killed. Mr. Malone�s mother, Renee, was too distraught to attend.

Ms. Malone�s attorney, Robert Van Lierop, read a statement on behalf of the aggrieved mother. After thanking the committee, Ms. Malone said, "Since Chris�s execution, I have struggled with many emotions, anger, bitterness, anxiety, frustration, and sincere sorrow over the loss of my son. However, during this crisis in my life, I gave my life to the Lord and He has given me peace and strength to keep going, believing that justice will be served by God Himself at an appointed time."

While the Lord works His wonders, Ms. Malone retained the Center For Constitutional Rights (CCR) who on Aug. 25 filed a lawsuit in federal court charging officials of Ossining and members of the police department with executing an unarmed man. The officers involved in the incident claimed they shot in self-defense and that Mr. Malone was armed, which contradicts reports from two eyewitnesses. All three officers were cleared of excessive force and are back on duty.

According to the lawsuit from the CCR, Mr. Malone, 24, was shot and killed after a confrontation with three white police officers who fired 19 or more bullets at Mr. Malone, six of them riddling his body. It further notes that Mr. Malone was shot while lying prone on the ground.

The lawsuit claims that village officials, including the mayor and the police chief, have tolerated a pattern of police brutality and use of force against Blacks. Moreover, they have failed to adequately monitor and investigate allegations of police brutality and have created an environment in which officers and supervisors are encouraged to engage in and conceal the misconduct of colleagues, the suit says.

The lawsuit has nine claims against the nine defendants, and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages totaling $20 million.