Turney shot Paul Childs on July 5, 2003, after Childs would not drop a knife and walked toward him. The officer was responding to a 911 call at the boy's northwest Denver home.

Turney's punishment is for violations on July 4 and July 5, 2003. He will be assigned to an administrative post when his suspension ends.

Earlier this month, Police Chief Gerry Whitman recommended a 20-day suspension for Turney. LaCabe's decision is harsher than what Whitman recommended. Whitman released a statement Thursday afternoon saying, "I respect Manager LaCabe's decision. The citizens of Denver can be assured that the Denver Police Department will continue to provide a high level of safety services to our citizens and the community."

LaCabe could have chosen any or no punishment for Turney, from termination to full reinstatement. LaCabe reports to Mayor John Hickenlooper and reviewed Police Chief Gerry Whitman's recommendation. He said he arrived at his decision after many hours of investigation. He also visited Child's home this week to see first hand what Officer Turney may have encountered that day.

According to LaCabe, when Turney responded to Childs' house, he committed a number of tactical and judgemental errors. One was to order the teenager outside of the house when, according to LaCabe, the front door could have served as an effective barrier between the two.

Childs did manage to get very close to Turney as he was coming out of the house, and while Turney may have been wrong in ordering Childs out of the house, according to LaCabe, Turney was not wrong in his decision to fire his weapon and did not violate the city's shoot policy.

 "Had Officer Turney violated that shoot policy, he would have been terminated, but in this case, that is not fair to him," LaCabe said at a press conference.

"No one supports the police department as much as I do. I've had death threats, but in a case where there has been such serious lack of judgement, I think there has to be consequences, serious consequences," Mayor John Hickenlooper said.

Observers say this is the first real political test for Hickenlooper's administration. The fatal shooting took place less than a month before Hickenlooper took office.

Turney also threatened his mother-in-law on July 4, 2003 and inappropriately used his personal cell phone while on duty. LaCabe said Turney violated the police department rules and regulations requiring that police officers "not engage in conduct prejudicial to the good order and police discipline of the department, or conduct unbecoming an officer," and that they "give their whole attention to their duties at all times."

Doug Jewell, Turney's attorney, said "It's unfortunate when an officer is disciplined and disciplined this harshly for doing what he is trained to do by the city." Jewell also said the decision appears to be a political one by the Mayor and the Manager of Safety.

Jewell said the decision will be appealed by Turney to the city's Civil Service Commission.

Childs' family said the decision is the first step on a long road to justice. They originally wanted Turney to be fired.

They say they are happy with the decision but they have some concerns. Childs' family is troubled by some of the wording in LaCabe's decision saying Turney's actions were consistant with Denver Police policy. They say this could lead to future tragedies.

The family is also concerned about an appeal by Turney which would draw out the process and could lower his punishment.

Black leaders were threatening "nonviolent civil disobedience" before the announcement was made if the penalty for Turney was too light.

The decision has been met with criticism from the Police Protective Association that issued a statement saying they are disappointed at the outcome of the process.

The last Denver Police officer to be suspended in a case where deadly force was used was Officer Joe Bini. He put the wrong address on a search warrant in a drug raid that resulted in the death of Ishmael Mena in 1999.