To New York and much of America, the trial of four city cops charged with shooting Amadou Diallo raised a host of serious issues.
But to the city fathers in Albany it seems the trial was mostly about toilet brushes, hand warmers and paper clips.
The capital city’s leaders are suing the state court system for the cost of such sundry items – and for bigger expenses like security costs – which it shelled out during last year’s high-profile trial.
The city is asking for $269,800, most of which includes $170,098 for police overtime and $72,284 in other salary for security guards kept on hand in the event of riots.
But the city – which had its bill rejected by the Office of Court Administration in February – included in its request a slew of minor expenses.
Among them:
* $150 for hand warmers.
* $48 for push brooms.
* $8.75 for five toilet brushes.
* $1.70 for paper clips.
The trial of officers Kenneth Boss, Sean Carroll, Edward McMellon and Richard Murphy was moved to Albany in February 2000 because of intense publicity in New York City about the Feb. 4, 1999 shooting.