Activists seek help from Justice Dept. in Childs' death

By Brian D. Crecente And April Washington, Rocky Mountain News
March 6, 2004

The possibility that officer James Turney faces something less than firing for the shooting death of Paul Childs ignited a firestorm of outrage among community activists and City Council members Friday.

"The Denver Police Department are equal opportunity killers," said John McBride, with the All People's Party - a group patterned after the Black Panthers and formed to address the shooting of Childs. "Life is still cheap in Denver."

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McBride and other activists are calling for the Department of Justice to take control of the police department.

City Council President Elbra Wedgeworth called on Mayor John Hickenlooper's administration to hold Turney accountable for Childs' death.

Wedgeworth denounced a police panel's recommendation that Turney receive a written reprimand, contending it is tantamount to a slap on the wrist.

The panel of four officers and two civilians recommended Monday that Turney receive a 30-day suspension for his role in Childs' death.

"I'm speechless," Wedgeworth said. "It's totally unbelievable. This is Turney's second shooting. People want him held accountable. This kid is dead. It's back in the mayor's court. When these kind of unjust decisions are made, it does nothing to help heal the community."

Wedgeworth and Councilman Rick Garcia successfully pushed for the passage of a non-binding resolution last fall that calls for law enforcement reforms in the wake of the July 5 death of Childs, a mentally disabled teenager.

Police went to the Childs' home after his sister called 911 to report that Childs was threatening his mother with a knife.

Police records show officers responded to that address 50 times in the past three years.

Officers said they fired after Childs approached them with a knife in a threatening manner.

An initial draft of the resolution called for Turney to be permanently assigned to a desk and taken off the streets. The language was removed after some council members expressed concern.

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.

Council members were divided over how best to respond to the shooting.

"We want the police to protect and serve," Wedgeworth said, "but our civil liberties shouldn't be traded for them to protect and serve."

Denver City Attorney Cole Finegan said that Hickenlooper's administration, while sympathetic to the Childs family, must allow the legal process to run its course as required by the City Charter.

Under the charter, Police Chief Gerry Whitman will review the panel's recommendation and conduct a hearing within the next 10 days. Then, he'll forward his recommendation to Manager of Public Safety Al LaCabe, who will make the ultimate decision whether to approve the recommended disciplinary action.

Garcia said he was equally dismayed by the panel's recommendation, but not totally surprised. He argued that ultimately the decision to hold Turney more accountable rests with the administration.

"I was stunned and, like everyone else, disappointed," he said.

A group of five community activists held a news conference Friday about the possibility that Turney might not be fired.

The group wants the department's policies and philosophy to be changed. It plans to hold a forum for people running for Denver district attorney as well as a criminal justice forum for the community.

The group said it asked the Department of Justice to issue a consent decree that would allow the federal agency to oversee the Denver Police Department.

"The African American community is hurt, angry and upset," said civil rights activist Alvertis Simmons.

Copyright 2004, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.