Denver Post

Paul Childs shooting
Split-second decision

Sunday, July 20, 2003 - Re: "Citizens call for justice, not revenge," July 13 Jim Spencer column.

I picked the wrong profession. Where else can you sit back and criticize everyone else based upon your own beliefs and uneducated opinions? Where else can people like Jim Spencer and Diane Carman sit in their cubicles and manipulate public opinion for the sake of selling papers?

The shooting of Paul Childs was tragic, but approaching a police officer with a knife in your hand is not a good idea. Officer Jim Turney made a split-second decision. He didn't have the luxury of reading Paul's background or consulting some law-enforcement or mental-health "experts." Police officers are not trained to lose a situation. If you allow a knife-wielding person to approach you without reacting, you will lose.

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Shooting from the hip

In judging Denver Police Officer Jim Turney's shooting of Paul Childs, we should remember an English common-law doctrine called the "duty to retreat." The doctrine says when you are threatened, you have a duty to retreat if you can do so safely. The doctrine should apply to a law-enforcement officer, unless a suspect is an immediate threat to someone. If officer Turney had backed off and let the screen door close, the outcome might have been much different.

In contrast, the "Code of the West" says you have a duty not to retreat. This contrary doctrine apparently applied in the mythical Old West to anyone with a pistol on his hip. Unfortunately, the Old West lives on.

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Lose-lose for police

The police are here to serve and protect; however, that does not make them the personal servants of the Childs family. According to interviews, the police brought Paul Childs home “almost every other day.” My tax dollars should not go for the nearly daily handling of a child who cannot be controlled by his own family. This was a lose-lose situation for the police from the first step. Had they not immediately responded and effectively diffused the situation, the mother likely may have been stabbed and the police would have been accused of not responding quickly enough. The responsibility for this shooting falls squarely on the shoulders of the irresponsible family for not getting Paul the help and/or treatment he needed,

KELLY PHILLIPS

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The Denver Post / John Leyba

Ashley Childs says goodbye to her brother Paul as her mother, Helen, provides comfort during a memorial service at Macedonia Baptist Church, Paul Childs, 15, was shot and killed by a Denver Police officer at his home in East Denver.

If the two adults and two teenagers at the Childs house felt no threat from Paul, why didn’t they take the knife from him? His mother reports that he was either standing or slowly walking while holding the knife still. She and her daughter could have simultaneously approached this slightly built boy and removed the knife. Instead, the mother allowed her son to take command of the house.

And when the 911 operator interrupting Paul’s passive sister, Ashley, why didn’t she just declare, “Listen to me! My brother’s disabled and may not understand what’s going on!” It’s not like she had duct tape on her mouth.

Let’s face it: Everyone in that house contributed to the outcome.

KRISTEANNA GARTH

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Is training adequate?

The recent shooting of a 15-year-old developmentally disabled boy, Paul Childs, brings up many questions and concerns for me. I am a mental-health professional who has an 11-year-old child with mental illness. Will I ever call 911 if my child is homicidal or suicidal? Probably not. The risks are just too high.

I am not a police officer and I hope none of my children choose this career path. The people who choose this profession are truly American heroes, who put their lives at risk every day, to protect all of us. They deal with abuse, and some of the worst components of our society. I have great admiration and respect for these individuals.

But I also wonder what we can do to decrease the incidence of fatal shootings of suicidal people, the mentally ill, and individuals with developmental disabilities. Do police cadets have enough training in dealing with suicidal people and individuals with mental illness? Are Tasers and non-lethal weapons available to all police officers? Are there ways to disable suicidal or mentally ill individuals without killing them? These are questions that need to be answered. Perhaps we can do a better job in these situations.

DIANE SALERNO

Littleton

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Loving, caring people

Re: “Cops not babysitters,” July 11 Open Forum.

It’s a shame that people still think that mentally challenged children should be put in institutions and have someone else “control” them. We need to remember that they are human beings and deserve the chance to be raised by their families. Little does letter-writer Bart Rhoten know about raising a child with developmental delays. Too bad for him. They are very loving, caring people who have no intention of hurting anyone.

JOYCE MADRID

Denver

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Uninformed opinion

Bart Rhoten is way off and obviously misinformed. As someone who has spent many years working with developmentally disabled adults and kids, I can only imagine how difficult it was at times for Paul Childs’ mother. To blame her for calling the police to calm Paul down just demonstrates how little people understand about the developmentally disabled.

Throughout the years, there have been budget cuts and few places that will serve a developmentally disabled person. From the time the child is born until he’s an adult, most of the responsibility of the child is with the parents. And, as that child gets older, the responsibility becomes greater. Developmentally disabled individuals often have poor impulse control. Though they are in an adult body, their thought process and functioning can be like that of a young child.

And what “institution” does Rhoten think Paul Childs should have been in? Even if Paul’s mom wanted him in an institution, there are few that take the developmentally disabled.

GAYLE PIKNA

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A positive experience

There has been a tremendous amount of publicity concerning the shooting and killing of Paul Childs by a Denver police officer. We can’t imagine the pain and suffering of his family in this tragedy. Much has been said by people about the Denver Police Department. We would like to share our family’s positive encounter.

Last spring, our 20-year-old son was experiencing a psychotic episode. He was walking on the streets aimlessly. A police officer spoke to him out of concern and made sure he returned safely to his home. We were not at home at the time and he left his card with our son. Our son told us of the encounter and emphasized how gentle the officer was. Our son has had previous experiences with police, which have not always been positive from his viewpoint.

Subsequently our son disappeared that evening, and when we had not heard from him in 24 hours, we called the officer. Because of our son’s mental condition, the officer called an all-points bulletin and visited with us for information. Within an hour our son was spotted, picked up by the officer and brought to the hospital, where he was admitted. The officer could not have been more understanding, kind and caring.

Officer Phil Epple is a member of the Crisis Intervention Team program of the Denver Police Department. These officers are trained on how to deal with mentally disturbed citizens and their families. We couldn’t have had a better experience. Unfortunately we have had several experiences with the police due to our son’s condition and although all were handled well, some officers were more understanding and patient than others. We strongly support the CIT program and can only wish one of those officers were at the Childs’ incident and perhaps the results would not have been so tragic. Let’s work to extend this valuable program.

NAMES WITHHELD

The writers’ names have been withheld to protect their son’s privacy.

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Don't blame taxpayers

Re: "Cuts erode public safety," July 11 editorial.

Does the Denver Post editorial board check facts before writing an editorial blaming the entire state of Colorado for Paul Childs' death because of tax limitations? Officer Jim Turney made a judgment call as a police officer, and until the shooting incident has been investigated, how can you point fingers at the voters of this state who voted for tax limitations? I take offense to being called shortsighted by "imposing unworkable fiscal restraints on Colorado government." Some of the budgetary crisis of this state and the city of Denver is caused by the slow economy, and government has to make cuts somewhere.

Secondly, if Turney's former mother-in-law felt so threatened, why didn't she call 911 and talk to someone about her complaint? The office she contacted is closed on holidays. It was not closed because of budgetary cuts caused by tax limitations.

LEIGH PERSCHON

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A rush to defense

Re: "Don't rush to judge police," July 14 guest commentary by Sgt. Jeffrey Kolts.

A representative of the police department certainly has a right to defend it. And I agree with much of what he writes in the department's and Officer Jim Turney's defense.

However, there is not a single word in the article that indicates Kolts believes that it is ever possible for an officer to commit a wrongful shooting. No indication that among the Denver police shootings in the past 26 years, none of which led to convictions on any criminal charge, there could even possibly have been a bad one.

Can Kolts identify any officer in this country who is serving a life sentence in a line-of-duty killing?

TIM FLYNN

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What about sister?

Ashley Childs

Nobody has mentioned the long-term psychological impact that awaits 16-year-old Ashley Childs, Paul's sister, who placed the 911 call that led to Paul's death. She was her brother's confidant, I'm sure. She trusted herself in seeking help from the Denver police when tragedy struck. I'm sure she was taught to believe that the police would protect and serve. After the support and comfort leaves her side, who will offer her a hand in the distant future? She will carry the guilt of being the one who summoned that fatal bullet. I pray somebody will be there for her years from now.

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Seeking closure

From what I've read about the death of Paul Childs, not once has the word "forgiveness" parsed the lips of the ministers who are acting as the public mouthpieces for the Childs family and who are the supposed emissaries of Christ, our Lord and Savior. One of His commandments was to forgive the sinner but not forget the sin. If the police officer did indeed kill this young man without good cause, then God will seek His own revenge if the police officer does not ask for forgiveness. Christ told us to seek not judgment but mercy. I believe these ministers are doing as much harm to the Childs family as what happened to Paul himself.

Harrop, French wrong

It is with the utmost disgust that I read Froma Harrop's piece on the French. Americans have good reason to feel annoyed and betrayed by the French.

The French leaders to whom we have been loyal allies claim to have been objective in denying us support in Iraq. Should Americans not be outraged that they are in bed with the corrupt dictatorship of Iraq? Should those of us with family members who defended the French in World War II not be offended by the French desecrating their memories and graves?

Americans are left to police the world, as our "allies" have neither the conscience nor the loyalty to support us in honorable missions. Harrop's musings of her friend who is angered by George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for their "every-man-for-himself philosophy" and "tax cuts for the rich and displays of religious piety" show her complete ignorance. Cheney is an honorable man who believes in capitalism and free markets. The same can be said for our president. Tax cuts for the rich? Who do you think pays the bills in this country? She obviously knows nothing about economics.

RICHARD PRATI

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Hate, through language

Newspaper columns full of hate and prejudice, if written by someone white, are vilified. The guest commentary by Earl A. Armstrong Sr. was extreme in its hate, bigotry and prejudice.

In case Armstrong hasn't noticed, this is an English-speaking country. Whatever language someone prefers to speak is right and proper in their home. However, encouraging everyone to speak the language they prefer in public is certain to lead to anarchy, as each group will consider their language to be the one that everyone else should use. That leads to Balkanization, which leads to war and ethnic cleansing. Is that his expressed desire?

Before he spouts off again, I suggest he analyze his own feelings and assumptions. Bigotry is not attractive in anybody.

SHARON S. TAYLOR

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'Polyamory' left out

When I read Sandra Dallas' article regarding Mormon polygamy, I couldn't help but notice that it made this type of brutal subjugation sound like the only form of three-or-more-person relationships.

This is far from the truth. Many people nationwide - and maybe people you know - are involved in a lifestyle known as "polyamory." Polyamorists believe it is possible to love more than one person, and often do. Some are in "open relationships" where both partners can find other lovers outside their primary relationship. Others are "polyfidelitous" - faithful to a three-person (or more) relationship. They are not "swingers," they simply believe that it's possible - and desirable - to share one's love with multiple people.

Polyamorists are not the same as Mormon polygamists, but too often they are lumped together. Polyamory isn't just for men to have multiple wives or lovers. It's entirely equal-opportunity.

While Mormon polygamy often becomes an excuse for the most cruel subjugation of women, the assertion that all multiple-person relationships shouldn't be protected constitutionally saddens me. I hope someday Dallas sees a loving polyamorous family (because yes, some of us do have children who understand and respect our lifestyles), and sees that there is an alternative to the dark picture she paints.

JEANETTE VANDERBOSCH

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Living with fires

NewsArt / Tim Brinton

This complaining about the Forest Service for not putting out a wilderness fire is somewhat amusing. The Bear Creek Fire was a lightning-caused fire in a wilderness area. The Forest Service wisely chose to let it burn, per agency policy, and also wisely initiated suppression efforts when the fire began to move away from their objective, also per agency policy. Putting a lightning-caused fire out when it could have been done "with two guys and a shovel" would have been the irresponsible choice.

We make all these noises about wanting to clean up the forest and we let Congress allocate hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to do just that, but when it's near us, the not-in-my-backyard attitude comes to fore. Do we want Mother Nature to be left alone to take care of herself, or do we want the almighty dollar to win yet again?

Smoke comes with living in the forest. Fires happen. To cry about them is counterproductive. Acceptance comes from having chosen to live near the forest.

The changing face of catholicism

Example misleading

Your article adequately synopsizes the new reality of the Colorado Catholic Church. Sadly, we all must admit that intolerance is alive and well. The reference however, to the new location for the devotional candles at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish as an example of the tensions between old and new parishioners is misleading. The entire shrine, to which you refer and I designed, was the parish answer to a request by the City and County of Denver that the devotional candles be moved from their location near the main altar and from other locations inside the chapel to a safer location. The Archdiocese of Denver then strongly requested that we either not have candles at all or replace all lighted candles with electric, coin-operated ones. There was no suitable place inside the building for the candles and the archdiocese request was rejected as insensitive to parishioners who feel strongly about the tradition of candle-lighting.

FREDRICK GARCIA

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The Denver Post / Cyrus McCrimmon

James Collins of Denver recently left St. Therese Catholic Church because he perceived the church was being 'stolen' from him to accomodate Spanish-speaking worshipers.

Parish misrepresented

I am a member of St. Therese Parish in Aurora. We are most definitely a "parish in transition." We are a parish that is trying to work through our differences and trying to bring diverse groups of people together. And the groups go way beyond the simplistic breakdown of English- or Spanish-speaking. These may be the two largest groups in the parish, but St. Therese also boasts parishioners from so many other ethnic groups, including Koreans and Vietnamese. We are more than "separate churches that do little more than share a building." Your article did little more than present grievances and complaints. It did nothing to show what positive things our parish is trying to do to bring people together. There was not a single quote from our pastor, and, in fact, our pastor was not even mentioned in the article. The problem with street vendors was mentioned, but the real problem with that situation was that the vendors were on church property selling their goods instead of staying on the public streets where they are allowed to sell.

As for James Collins, it is sad that he would rather complain in such a public forum instead of seeing where he might fit in as we all try to grow and change. After all, this is hardly the first time - even in recent history - that the Catholic Church has undergone big changes. It is not the first time that people have wondered where we might be heading. And it is not the first time that people have left the church because they did not like what they saw happening.

Perhaps it is now more important than ever to pull together. To stop trying now would only let those who see and report only the negative win.

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Accepting traditions

My German great-grandparents came here to make a better life. But they learned English and taught it to their children. They accepted the traditions of America, instead of expecting everyone to accept their traditions. No one should have to give up their traditions in their home. But it should not be expected, when immigrating to a new country, that citizens should have to take up your old traditions and language. I would never move to Mexico and expect everyone to speak English, to give up their traditions, or to provide for my education, health and livelihood.

The message is that the minorities are the only ones who count, pandering to the lowest common denominator. My message will not make a difference; I know the church no longer cares. I am not a prejudiced person, but I do feel that the only people with any rights are minorities. It has become politically correct to discriminate against whites.

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Selective Journalsim

The Denver Post has done it again. A number of years ago, when Christians of many denominations conferred for days with Post staff to convince The Denver Post to retain its religion page, The Post determined that religious coverage was not necessary. Since then, many reports and polls have been published - even a best-selling book by a well-known former columnist from The New York Times - touting the liberal anti-Christian bigotry of the established Fourth Estate. With an opportunity open to scandalize religion, The Post has seen fit to publish an article in which my parish was depicted as biased.

From hours of interviews, a few quotations were extracted from individuals from outside the parish inferring a racially bigoted, white and ancient congregation militantly in opposition to the arrival of new Spanish-speaking parishioners. While the quotations may have exposed the definite racial and age biases of the persons quoted, these people's knowledge and evaluation of the members of St. Therese parish was definitely lacking. It appears that a selective editing process was used to create divisiveness in a parish where none existed and none is wanted. It appears that the newspaper that did not consider religion important enough to justify one page a week, does consider it important enough for three pages of jaundiced journalism.

As a member of St. Therese parish since 1958, I am highly offended by the slanted coverage foisted upon the reader in your article. It is an insult to the old parishioners, the new parishioners, the pastor, the Hispanic ministers of our parish and all who strive to make St. Therese parish a great unified community.

It is a shame that the media sees fit to play the race and anti-Catholic cards any time its shortcomings become apparent.

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Church given, not stolen

Your article on Catholicism is a good one with many truths. However, the Mexican people did not "steal" our church. It is being given to them by our church leaders, just as our state and city are being given away by our politicians. There should be a distinction made between legal and illegal immigrants. We have had Mexican, Swedish, Asian, Italian, Irish, African Americans, etc., in St. Therese throughout the 52 years I've been a member with no tension until now.

LEILA RAFFA

Schoettler ignored good in state's economy to focus on ills

Why would Colorado's former lieutenant governor devote a whole Sunday column to tearing Colorado's economy down? That's the puzzle after reading Gail Schoettler's most recent piece, in which she ignored reams of good fiscal facts in order to offer a scrap of bad news.

Schoettler certainly is well read and has the research skills to acquire a broad and balanced view of the issues she writes about. So why has she been silent about all the good news that shows Colorado to be well situated compared to other states? Why ignore the praise from The Wall Street Journal that called Colorado a model of fiscal policy? Or the Cato Institute's ranking of Colorado as the best-managed state in the country? Or the fact that the Corporation for Economic Development, for five years in a row, has cited Colorado has having America's best business climate? Or the Tax Foundation's ranking of Colorado as among the top job-friendly states in America? The list goes on, but you get the point. Schoettler had to speed past these clear signs of our economic strengths to arrive where her biases drove her.

She cites a report in a national newspaper that puts Colorado, which balanced its budget for the last five years without tax increases, in the same rock-bottom category as California. And that doesn't pass the straight-face test, since California has a lingering budget deficit that is more than six times Colorado's entire budget. The report views Colorado's constitutional brake on spending and tax hikes as a severe liability. Yet numerous economic observers - including national media other than USA Today - have praised Colorado's discipline, most recently in last Tuesday's Wall Street Journal.

Schoettler says, "Having been an elected official, I now it's tough to tell voters straight." And, as a columnist, she's having the same trouble with straight talk, especially because - as the losing candidate in 1998 to our current governor - she has such an ax to grind.

SEAN DUFFY

Mideast conflict

A chance for peace

Many thanks for running a thoughtful, in-depth article on the hopes for peace between Jews and Palestinians that cited the thoughts of people with firsthand information and experience rather than the assumptions of ideologues on either side. This kind of balanced and empathetic discourse offers the only possible hope for peace.

JULIET WITTMAN

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Onus on Palestinians

Deborah Rohan Schlueter failed miserably in her attempt to present a balanced story on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In her opening, she said that while "searching for a balanced and deeper understanding ... I've talked with six individuals - three Palestinian and three Jewish," clearly an attempt to lead the reader into believing an unbiased piece of journalism would follow.

Palestinian children run by a graffiti-covered wall that shows an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber in Gaza City in early July.

The first person she interviews is Roger Kahn, an American Jew who no doubt hailed Oslo as an end to the conflict. Nave Jews watched in disbelief at the growing evil of Hitler's Germany, and gave up security for the sake of peace - until they were helplessly slaughtered. Kahn's willingness to encourage Israeli Jews to give up their security (from the safety of his Denver neighborhood) for the sake of peace provided no balance to the story.

Schlueter unwittingly illustrated a microcosm of the entire peace process in recounting the "Peace Seder" attempt: it's a very one-sided effort. It shows Jews craving peace and a willing to let go of past transgressions. At the same time, the Palestinians are too concerned with being labeled a "traitor" to attend. Their wounds are "too deep." Jewish wounds are just as deep, but at least they have the courage sit with Palestinians for the sake of peace.

Schlueter (and much of the world) holds Israel to a different standard than any other nation that has ever existed. Even today, Syria occupies Lebanon for its own security concerns, and the world could care less.

The "right of return" issue that prevents peace in the minds of Palestinian leaders is a double standard, as well. Where is the "right of return" for Jews who were run out of Iraq, Iran and the rest of the Middle East over the past 80 years?

Turkey, with an Islamic majority, is a democratic nation, and is an important trading and security partner with Israel. The Islamic theocracies and dictatorships in the rest of the Muslim world, however, foster hatred and violence against Jews as a means to maintain power.

Israelis are ready for peace. They've demonstrated it repeatedly, only to be attacked time and again when they let their guard down. If Palestinians and Arabs are truly interested in peace, they must get rid of their current leaders. They must have the courage to sit with Jews for Seders.

Sadly, most Palestinians lack the bravery to stand up to the enemies of peace in their culture. All peace efforts will fail unless Palestinians are willing to fight their internal, rather than the perceived external, enemies of peace. But, in presenting a Palestinian advocacy piece, posing as a "balanced understanding," Schlueter wouldn't dare tell this truth.

Gay marriage

Is it a choice?

The insistence that homosexuality is a choice is a canard designed to encourage the persecution of gays and to salve the consciences of those so disposed. After all, if homosexuality isn't a choice, one might not feel quite so righteous when on the attack. And if homosexuality isn't a choice, then gays must be as God created them and intended them to be.

The Denver Post

If you believe homosexuality is a choice, I ask you to reflect on your life for a moment. Think back to the day when you chose whether to be straight or gay, the day you chose whether to be attracted to those of your sex or those of the opposite sex. What's that you say? You didn't choose? Then what makes you so sure that others did?

LEROY CASTERLINE

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Damned if you don't

The quotes and ideas from Focus on the Family in your article mystify me. Apparently their literature says that every society declines when it "strays from the sexual ethic of marriage." Considering that fidelity and commitment are the mainstays of the the sexual ethic of marriage, why shouldn't we be permitting marriage between gay couples? Bill Maier says that "gays and lesbians have significantly higher rates of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, infidelity, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide than straight people, especially married couples." Doesn't this suggest that the stability of marriage has widespread social benefits? Why then are we questioning whether or not gays should be permitted to marry, when in fact, it seems we ought to be promoting it?

PAULA REED

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Privatize marriage

One solution to the issue of same-sex marriage may be in reversing the paradigm. Instead of allowing gays to marry as straights do, we require straights to marry as some gays do - through a private agreement that sets forth the rights and responsibilities of each party, how the marriage can end and what happens to any children and property if the marriage does end. The state's only role would be to enforce the agreement as needed.

The advantages are many. Both parties know exactly what they're agreeing to, unconcerned about the latest family court ruling or judges who believe only one sex can parent. Ministers would be free to marry only those couples whose marriage agreement reflects their church's beliefs. And two men or two women could marry, as their marriage agreements would not affect those between a man and a woman.

Privatizing marriage may not be a perfect solution, but it could be the only choice if courts outlaw the legislature's right to decide who can and cannot marry.