By Javier Erik Olvera, Rocky Mountain News
July 24, 2003

Helen Childs sat silently, listening as speaker after speaker talked of police and her dead son.

Most who attended the community forum Wednesday night didn't know Paul Childs, the 15-year-old developmentally disabled boy killed by a police officer July 5 when he wouldn't drop a knife.

Officer James Turney was suspended days after the incident for an unrelated matter, and the shooting is still under investigation by the police department.

About 50 people gathered at the Zion Senior Center to hash out solutions and pinpoint what they could do to prevent similar occurrences.

"We already know how the police are," said Alvertis Simmons, a forum organizer. "But what are we going to do about it as a community?"

The forum is one of several planned to make sure the boy's death isn't forgotten, he said.

The focus: Justice.

Linda Williams is president of the African-American Leadership Institution, a local organization that empowers youths and adults.

She told the audience that what is needed most is a widespread awareness about mental illnesses and the types of services that are available.

Williams also said someone should have spotted some of the red flags that popped up at the family's household, such as repeated calls to 911.

Denver Council President Elbra Wedgeworth told the audience that she has issued a request for federal authorities to investigate the shooting.

She also said she wants the city's public safety committee to study the use of lethal force, which has become a focal point in the case.

"What this all comes down to is accountability," said Wedgeworth, who urged the community to write legislators to voice their concerns.

Throughout the 2 ½-hour meeting, Helen Childs focused on each speaker, but held back her tears until her neighbor spoke.

La-Shon Hall has lived two doors down from the Childs family for nearly a year, and it didn't take long for Paul Childs to become like one of her own.

The mother of two - ages 13 and 10 - was moving into her home when Paul Childs approached and asked if there was anything he could do to help.

Paul often went to her house to play with her children, who now struggle to make sense of his death.

Her youngest, Idaisha Hall, is afraid to sleep alone. She doesn't like to answer the door, either. And just the other day, she was afraid to wave hello to a police officer.

"I want solutions to these problems," La-Shon Hall said. "My daughter shouldn't have to be afraid."

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