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Denver Post
Leaders pledge to end police shootings
Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - An emotional and sometimes heated town hall meeting was held Tuesday in Denver, where community members and leaders vowed to take measures to end a string of recent controversial police shootings.
The meeting, called by the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, follows the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Paul Childs, a mentally disabled youth killed by a Denver police officer as the teen held a knife in the doorway of his home on July 5; and the Aug. 5 fatal shooting of Denise Washington, a woman battling mental problems who was killed by an Aurora police officer after she hit him with a 19-inch candlestick. Both shootings happened after family members called police to their homes for help. Some speakers told the audience they were victims of police brutality, and they expressed a great distrust of police and contempt for the way police shootings are handled, labeling the investigations nothing more than whitewashes. The ministerial alliance and other community groups are forming four "working groups" to interact with the police departments and work for change that will cut down on police shootings. "As a community, we know we cannot live without a police department," said Adrienne Benavidez, a Denver attorney and community activist. Benavidez, a former chairwoman of the Denver Public Safety Review Commission, acknowledged the Denver Police Department's "professionalism" and gains it has made over the years. However, she said, "it doesn't mean they don't make mistakes." The four groups will work on: Strengthening or revamping the Public Safety Review Commission. Seeking community action and community input regarding police issues. Evaluating and reforming police policies. Looking at how police respond to calls involving people with mental-health issues. The 2 1/2-hour meeting at New Hope Baptist Church in northeast Denver attracted more than 130 people, including Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver Safety Manager Al LaCabe, state Rep. Terrance Carroll, Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman, Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter and Aurora Police Chief Ricky Bennett. Speakers urged community members not to leave the meeting without signing up for a work group or planning to attend future meetings. Russell Washington, Denise Washington's father, who was home the night his daughter was killed, attended Tuesday's meeting wearing a white T-shirt with photo images of his daughter at various stages of her life. Washington said he intends to file a civil suit against the city of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department. |