The Denver Post
Cop's proposed suspension too lenient, protesters say
Sunday, April 04, 2004 -
Car horns of passing motorists blared in approval Friday as about 40 people protested outside a Denver police station, calling for an officer's badge and gun.
The protesters, with about two dozen carrying signs, marched from the intersection of Bruce Randolph Avenue and Colorado Boulevard north one block to the District 2 police station, chanting "No justice, no peace, no racist police." On Thursday, Police Chief Gerry Whitman recommended that officer James Turney be suspended for 20 days without pay for fatally shooting a developmentally disabled black teenager who was holding a knife. A flier passed out at the rally urged passers-by to "Stand up against Chief Gerry Whitmen's (sic) Foolishness!" Thursday, the day of Whitman's recommendation, was April Fools' Day. "A slap in the wallet for Turney, a slap in the face for the city," said Doug Vaughan, one of the protesters. Some of the protesters wore white T-shirts pressed with red lettering over a sheriff's badge that read, "Operation Get Turney - No immunity for killer cops." On July 5, police were called to the northeast Denver home of Paul Childs, 15, by a family member; officers found the teenager holding a knife with an 8 1/2-inch blade. Turney said he ordered Childs to drop the knife and shot the boy when he didn't comply. Two other officers on the scene, who had arrived before Turney, were armed with Taser stun weapons. Before Whitman's recommendation, Turney was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by the Denver district attorney's office, and the police Discipline Review Board recommended that he receive a written reprimand. Denver Manager of Safety Al LaCabe will make a binding decision on Turney in less than two weeks. LaCabe can discipline Turney, fire him or do nothing. Turney can appeal LaCabe's decision. Joy Walker, 26, a student at Metropolitan State College of Denver, said she went to the protest to inspire other community members to send a message to police and political leaders. "This is my community, and we have an injustice," Walker said. "We hope that someone will listen. We are targeting a person that can make a change, whether that be the chief of police or the governor." At one point during the demonstration, a police car with its siren blaring and lights flashing raced through the intersection. Protesters let out a collective "Booo!" as the police car passed. Two women, a mother and daughter, showed up at the scene to applaud Denver police. "I support my police department and think this is an unfair deal," said Laura Aguilar, 32, of Denver. Sylvia Fernandez, 55, of Denver said: "They do a lot of good things. What would we do without them? We need them." Shortly before the 75-minute protest broke up, activists took turns addressing the crowd in a light rain in front of the District 2 station as its American flag waved in a breeze above the gathering. Several officers stood in the parking lot, with a few more sitting in patrol cars, watching. The officers declined to comment. As nightfall descended, the protesters packed up their signs and left, vowing to carry on. |