Friends say LaCabe isn't afraid to make difficult decisions

By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
April 2, 2004

By his own admission, Manager of Public Safety Al LaCabe sits in an unenviable position.

He must decide the fate of Denver police officer James Turney for his role in last summer's shooting death of 15-year-old Paul Childs.

Advertisement

Some political observers say no matter what LaCabe does, he's going to upset police officers supporting their comrade or outrage community activists pushing for Turney's removal from the force.

LaCabe, 56, is no stranger to against-all-odds predicaments. He has three decades of law enforcement and legal experience.

"As a prosecutor, you face these kind of tough decisions in which you deal with people's lives all the time," he said. "When you do what is right, you can stand up in front of anyone who might not agree with you."

LaCabe must decide within 15 days whether to approve or modify a recommendation made by Police Chief Jerry Whitman on Thursday to suspend Turney for 20 days.

LaCabe said he plans to approach the daunting task much like a state district judge by assessing the facts and applying the law.

"It will be a thorough review, a very intensive review and time-consuming," he said. "I can't have any feelings about the chief's decision. I have to look at all of the facts and discuss them to the extent with him and others that I can. . . . But up until that point, I'll reach an independent decision."

LaCabe's methodical approach is vintage "Al," say those who know him well.

Former district attorney Norm Early, a close friend, said no one is more prepared for the task.

"He relishes the difficult," said Early, who worked alongside LaCabe in the 1980s. "He has the ability to weather the storm.

"He knows full well if he decides to increase the penalty imposed by the chief, the police force won't like it. He knows if he doesn't increase it, the community is not going to like it. In spite of that, he's going to do the right thing."

LaCabe has spent time in the trenches as a cop and legal eagle.

Before his appointment to manager of safety last July, LaCabe served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Colorado for seven years. A top-notch litigator, he also served as chief district attorney for Denver's District Attorney's Office.

His extensive law enforcement background includes working as an agent for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, a criminal investigator for the district attorney's office and patrol officer and detective for the New Orleans Police Department, arguably one of the most embattled departments in the nation.

LaCabe, said City Councilman Michael Hancock, may be the sole member of Mayor John Hickenlooper's Cabinet who possesses the finesse and skills to calm the storm if Turney is fired.

LaCabe has garnered the respect of the black community because of his ability to influence and sway both sides of aisle, Hancock said.

"He's been nicknamed 'Smokey Robinson' by some in the community," Hancock said. "He's a smooth as a cat. He's down to earth. When he speaks, people listen."

Copyright 2004, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.