The Denver Post
Cops seek answers, training
Tuesday, April 20, 2004 -
The thin blue line appeared considerably thicker Monday as more than 450 Denver police officers swarmed the steps of the City and County Building to deliver a message to Mayor John Hickenlooper.
The morning rally protested the 10- month suspension of officer James Turney for violating department policy in the shooting death of a Denver teen. They called on the mayor to both explain the discipline and provide more training for officers. Members of the Police Protective Association, the police union, delivered a letter protesting Turney's suspension. It cited, among other things, the criticism authorities received five years ago for not charging into Columbine High School, suggesting that Turney's discipline shows that police are second-guessed regardless of how they handle dangerous situations. "This is causing considerable concern to officers who feel that they are merely one call away from a similar situation and could face the same type of discipline for handling it correctly," the letter says. Turney was suspended without pay last week for the July shooting death of Paul Childs, a 15-year-old developmentally disabled teen who was wielding a knife. Hickenlooper was at another meeting at the time of the rally, staff members said. His chief of staff, Michael Bennet, and City Attorney Cole Finegan accepted the letter on his behalf. The mayor's absence did not sit well with the officers, who, with about 150 supporters, chanted "Serve with pride. Serve with honor," outside city hall. Several officers and supporters yelled out "Chickenlooper" after learning that the mayor was not in the office. The mocking call was quickly quieted. "Are we that unimportant to him?" one officer shouted. Hickenlooper issued a statement saying he had learned about the rally on Friday but had a previously scheduled meeting about transportation plans with federal officials, members of Colorado's congressional delegation and other metro-area mayors. The mayor said he met with union leadership before the suspension was announced last week and plans to meet with the membership at their convenience. "As I said last week, I fully support Manager of Safety Al LaCabe's decision to suspend officer Turney for 10 months. The residents of Denver understand that officer Turney's discipline does not reflect on the rest of the police force," Hickenlooper said in the statement. "I look forward to meeting with our police officers to discuss the Turney case and any other issues they wish to raise." Veteran cops said Monday's rally was an unusual if not unprecedented show of strength by police officers. Police Chief Gerry Whitman, who recommended a 20- day suspension for Turney in the shooting, shook hands with officers as they arrived, and called it "a large, impressive group." Technician Reyes Trujillo said, "I've been here 16 years, and I've never seen anything like this. Guys are really fired up, really passionate about this." Sgt. Mike Mosco, the PPA president, said officers are committed to protecting the city and there will be no work slowdown. "There is no 'blue flu.' There was never a blue flu planned," Mosco said. Not everyone at the rally agreed with the officers. A handful of counterdemonstrators held signs and cried out against the cops, but they were mostly drowned out. Some protesters delivered a petition to the mayor calling for Turney to be fired. Activist Alvertis Simmons watched the rally but did not protest. He said most in the community "are not anti-police. We're just against rogue cops." But he criticized police for their show of strength. "It looked to me like they were trying to intimidate our community by wearing their uniforms and guns here," Simmons said. But a few hundred friends, family and community members joined with the officers. Susan Bunt, a dispatcher in Denver, said she came to support police. "It's a small minority that gets out and voices what their beliefs are," Bunt said. "I believe the people of Denver support what the police go out and do every day." The officers' demonstration made a statement, said Detective Nick Rogers, vice president of the PPA. "Let's go back to work now," Rogers told fellow cops, "and show 'em what we can do." |