Denver Post

Officer who fatally shot teen sought in Iowa phone threat
Mother of Turney's former wife called police day before shooting
By David Migoya
Denver Post Staff Writer

Saturday, July 19, 2003 - Iowa prosecutors have accused Denver police officer James Turney, already under investigation for the on- duty fatal shooting of a 15-year-old mentally disabled boy, of threatening "to put a bullet in the middle" of his former mother-in-law's head.

A day after the threat was allegedly made, Turney shot Paul Childs four times in the doorway of Childs' northeast Denver home when the youth did not drop a knife.

Turney, 29, allegedly telephoned his former wife's mother, Rozella Orme, 60, at her southwest Iowa home on July 4 and, as Page County records put it, threatened "to put a bullet in the middle of her head."

A warrant for Turney's arrest on the misdemeanor harassment charge was issued by a judge Friday, prosecutors said.

It's unclear why Turney might have made the threat. His ex-wife, Teresa Orme, moved back to Iowa with the couple's 9-year-old son shortly after they divorced early last year, according to court records.

Turney, a Denver police officer since late 1998, was ordered to pay $263 a month in child support, divorce records in Denver show.

Three days after Childs was killed, Turney was suspended with pay pending an internal investigation into the alleged phone threat. Because it was a holiday weekend, investigators hadn't retrieved a July 4 telephone message from Rozella Orme about the threat until the following Monday.

The Childs shooting outraged community leaders and polarized feelings about the Police Department amid calls for a federal investigation. Childs' death is being reviewed by the Denver district attorney, normal procedure for all police shootings.

The Childs family has hired attorney Johnnie Cochran, best known for defending football legend O.J. Simpson from murder charges. No lawsuit has been filed, although Cochran has said it probably "needs to be litigated."

In the Iowa case, Turney faces up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine if convicted, prosecutors said. The county does not plan to try to extradite Turney, but the statewide warrant means he could be arrested if he goes to Iowa.

Turney's former wife and former mother-in-law, both from Shenandoah, have refused to comment.

Turney married Teresa Orme in 1999 at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., six years after the couple's son was born, court records show. Nebraska had sued Turney over the paternity of the child in 1994 and ordered him to pay child support, and he often fell behind on payments despite various security guard jobs and court-ordered garnishments, records show.

The marriage lasted about 18 months.

Turney's lawyer, Doug Jewell, has said the officer expects to be exonerated in the shooting.

Jewell could not be reached Friday to comment about the Iowa charge.