She says changes at police department more important than money

By Javier Erik Olvera, Rocky Mountain News
June 8, 2004

For nearly a year, Helen Childs has fought for justice in the death of her 15-year-old developmentally disabled son, who was killed by a Denver police officer last summer.

She said she got it Monday when the City Council voted 11-1 to settle with her for more than $1.3 million - the second- largest payout involving the police in the city's history.

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But more important than money, she said, are changes that will bring closer citizen oversight of police, provide officers more nonlethal weapons such as Tasers and give them better training in dealing with mentally challenged people.

"I didn't want to hear . . . of something similar happening to another developmentally disabled child," said Helen Childs, in her first interview since settlement terms were reached two weeks ago.

The settlement is the latest chapter in the story that sparked wide-ranging and intense reactions that likely will be felt well into the future.

Throughout the last 11 months, community leaders have held protests to demand the badge of James Turney, the officer who shot the boy during a confrontation at the Childs' Thrill Place home.

Hundreds of police officers backed Turney and recently rallied in front of the City and County building after Manager of Safety Al LaCabe suspended him for 10 months without pay. Turney is appealing LaCabe's decision.

Turney was among the officers who responded to a call on July 5 from Helen Childs' daughter, Ashley Childs. She told police her brother, Paul, had made threats with a knife.

Turney demanded that Paul Childs drop the 13-inch knife. When he didn't, Turney fired at him four times.

A family friend introduced Helen Childs to famed defense attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr., who, with Boulder attorney Timothy Rastello, agreed to represent her.

In December, the legal team said it intended to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city for $5 million and demand changes in the police department.

By mid-January, Rastello and City Attorney Cole Finegan began meeting. A few weeks later, Cochran joined Rastello for a meeting with city leaders, including Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Both sides eventually decided to pursue mediation and hired former District Judge Richard Dana, a mediator with the Judicial Arbiter Group.

Negotiations began in early May. Rastello, who led the negotiations for Helen Childs, decided to settle after city leaders assured her several reforms would roll out at the police department.

On May 25, Finegan issued a three-page letter to Helen Childs about the changes planned at the police department in the next two years.

Helen Childs and her attorneys will share $726,115, though the split hasn't been released. Another $580,000 will be placed in a tax-free annuity - which will grow to $908,093 with interest over its 20-year life - for Helen Childs.

Soon, Helen Childs will move from the home, where blood stains the carpet and bullet holes are punched into a wall.

She won't say where she's going because she wants to heal in private.

She said the fight is over and she's glad she helped make a difference.

"Like I've said from the beginning, all I wanted was justice," she said.

Police changes

Denver City Attorney Cole Finegan's May 25 letter to Helen Childs outlines changes at the police department. The city's plan figured into Helen Childs' decision to settle in the death of her son.

The changes include:

• Train at least half of the police officers in crisis intervention over the next two years.

• A hundred more Tasers - for a total of 300 - will be purchased and supplied to patrol officers.

• Community members will help oversee the police department's firearms discharge review board.

• A public report will be issued after any incident involving police that leads to serious injury or death.

• A mental health worker will be hired to train police officers on how to deal with mentally ill, developmentally disabled and others in crisis.

• More minority police officers will be hired to increase diversity of the department.

• Online extra: To read the city of Denver's letter to Helen Childs, click on Today's links at RockyMountain News.com.

olveraj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5113

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