Attorney urges city to fire cop who shot, killed Paul Childs

By April M. Washington And Javier Erik Olvera, Rocky Mountain News
February 18, 2004

Helen Childs clutched the hand of famed attorney Johnnie L. Cochran on Tuesday and said she now believes "we'll get some justice" in the fatal police shooting of her developmentally disabled son, 15-year-old Paul Childs.

"For the first time in a long time, I feel positive," Childs said as she stood by Cochran's side inside the Denver City and County Building.

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Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper held an hourlong meeting with Cochran, attorneys for the Childs family and a half-dozen family members Tuesday, paving the way for a possible settlement in an ordeal that gripped Denver and sent tremors of unrest through its black community.

"All of the work is focused on making sure we never forget Paul Childs," Cochran said. "We . . . talked about the loss of life of a young man. We talked about how to ensure this kind of tragedy doesn't happen again and how to make the community safe for all."

Cochran urged Hickenlooper to seek the removal of Denver police officer James Turney, who fatally shot Childs on July 5 as he wielded a knife inside his Thrill Place home in northeast Denver.

"He needs to be removed before there can truly be any justice in this case," Cochran saidd.

"We had a good conversation, and we'll have more," said City Attorney Cole Finegan, speaking on behalf of Hickenlooper. "It was a quiet, respectful meeting. We're mindful that it was a terrific tragedy and that Mrs. Child's son was killed."

The Childs family filed notice about a month ago of its intent to seek at least $5 million from the city in a federal lawsuit alleging civil rights violations.

The meeting ended with no talks of settlement, but Finegan said the city has not ruled out exploring such an outcome. He characterized the conference as one of several that will take place between the city and the family's legal team over the next month.

District Attorney Bill Ritter in October found there was not enough evidence to file criminal charges against Turney, who is on paid administrative leave while police continue an internal investigation into the shooting and another incident, in which Turney allegedly threatened his former mother-in-law.

On July 5, Childs' sister, Ashley Childs, called 911 to report to police that her brother had threatened their mother with a knife. When Paul Childs wouldn't drop the knife, Turney fired his gun four times.

Childs was one of eight people killed by Denver police last year.

At the time of the shooting, Ashley Childs was a few months pregnant with her son, who is now 7 weeks old. She named him AaJaiveon Nash Hall. Nash was Paul Child's middle name. She attended the meeting with her son, who the family calls a blessing in the wake of tragedy.

After the teenager's death, Cochran joined the family, black leaders and community activists as they rallied for changes at the Denver Police Department, specifically in how officers are trained and in use of excessive force.

Cochran has teamed with Boulder attorney Timothy Rastello, who in 2001 landed the state's biggest police misconduct verdict - $2.25 million - against the Denver Police Department.

Cochran said he hopes the talks will lead to substantial reforms of police department policies, better treatment of mentally disabled residents and an improved relationship with the black community.

In December, Hickenlooper rolled out what he called the "most comprehensive package" of police reforms in the city's history, arming Denver's cops with more training and a bigger arsenal of alternative weapons while subjecting them to increased citizen oversight.

A 38-member task force, created in January, has a little over a month left to review the new oversight model as well as two other proposals that would change the language of the department's use-of-force policy to emphasize the value of human life.

"The mayor is a good and reasonable man," Cochran said. "I'm positive about the task force. I think the mayor's taking steps to try to ensure this doesn't happen again."

Childs' family emerged hopeful from the mayor's oval office.

"We're hoping for good news," said Michael Thompson, uncle of the slain teenager. "Like we've been saying all along, justice needs to be done."

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