August 18, 2003

The Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, angered by the recent police shootings of Paul Childs in Denver and Denise Michelle Washington in Aurora, has called for a community meeting to address the situations.

Childs was developmentally disabled; Washington was mentally ill.

The meeting, to be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the New Hope Baptist Church, 3701 Colorado Blvd., is intended to initiate a dialogue between the black communities and the Denver and Aurora police departments. Information: 303-322-5200.

The goal is to work toward the implementation of procedures which will foster respect and cooperation between the groups.

"The shooting of 15-year-old Childs by a Denver police officer on July 5 is an example of a training philosophy that encourages the use of overwhelming force by police in situations officers deem 'life-threatening,' " said University of Colorado sociology professor AnnJanette Rosga.

Rosga, a Fulbright Scholar, studies police use of force and the training of police in human rights-respecting practices in emerging democracies around the world. She said law enforcement training and the belief among police in the United States that their lives are likely to be in danger at any moment encourages the use of deadly force in any potentially dangerous situation.

"Departments justify such procedures on the grounds that they protect officers," said Rosga. "But my research shows that, as often as not, heavily armed and guarded police preparation for 'worst-case scenarios' cause civilians to feel threatened and to act irrationally and tends to create conflict instead of mitigating it."

Rosga said a policy like that of the Denver Police Department, which allows officers to use deadly force against anyone holding a knife within 21 feet of the officer, exemplifies police "bunker mentality.

"Police are taught that their safety depends not on conflict-resolution skills or communicating with civilians, but on demanding citizens do as they say on command and on the use of deadly force when compliance is not forthcoming and there is any suggestion of a threat toward the officer," said Rosga.

According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, police officers in the United States kill an average of 373 people each year. In virtually all cases, said Rosga, authorities deem such homicides "justified" on the grounds that an officer's life was in danger.

"The truth is, policing is not as dangerous as many of us are led to believe," said Rosga. "Statistics show that the risks of on-the-job death faced by police officers is on the low end of the spectrum, comparable to those faced by electricians, and nowhere near to employees of fishing industries who die at more than eight times the rate of police officers on the job."

Etc.

The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo - the locally created all-black rodeo named after the legendary cowboy who originated "bulldogging," returns to Colorado Saturday and Sunday.

The event includes bareback riding, barrel racing, calf roping, bull riding and bulldogging (in which a rider chases a steer released from the chutes, jumps off the horse and wrestles the steer to the ground by twisting its horns).

The rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Adams County Fairgrounds, 9755 Henderson Road in Brighton.

This is the 20th year for the rodeo, which now has more than 100,000 spectators every year. It is the nation's only touring black rodeo.

The event was started by producer Lu Vaso after he attended Cheyenne Frontier Days.

"It was exciting, but lacked one thing: Black cowboys," he said. "The black rodeo has been a powerful tool in our goals of educating people on the black West experiences and the cultural pride associated with all the contributions made by African-Americans.

"Behind the dust of the Western frontier emerge black faces, creative and forceful men, women and children that have seldom been portrayed in the movies, on television and, even more astonishing, in the textbooks of American history.

"People know the name Will Rogers, but who they hadn't heard of was Bill Pickett, and if they had, they didn't know he was black."

Pickett was a star attraction on the rodeo and Wild West show circuit for more than 15 years, and, in 1972, became the first black cowboy inducted into the National Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Tickets are $10 to $18. For more information, call 303-373-1246.

Happenings

Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2760 S. Colorado Blvd., is holding a fund-raiser to benefit Adam's Camp at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. . . . A community celebration sponsored by the Denver Art Museum, called START Building, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. The celebration will mark the beginning of new construction at the facility. . . . Africana Designers International is hosting the First Africana Designers Showcase Aug. 23 at the Palace Event Center, 940 Lincoln St. Chuck Berry, president of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, will be the keynote speaker. His topic will be "Building Partnerships: The Role of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce in Fostering Colorado's Commitment to Promoting Trade and Investment with Africa." . . . The Colorado Women's Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for its 2004 Induction Event. Selected nominees will be inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame March 11. The CWHF recognizes and honors women for their valuable contributions to Colorado's community and lifetime achievement of dedicated and invaluable work. Aug. 22 is the deadline for applications. Information: 303-681-9710.

Bob Jackson's column appears Monday. Please send your news to the Rocky Mountain News, Cityscape, 100 Gene Amole Way, Denver, CO 80204. You can contact him at 303-892-5399 or jacksonb@RockyMountainNews.com.

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