April 16, 2004

The killing of a developmentally disabled teen sparked public outrage and tense relations with Denver police. Here is a look at some involved in the issue.

JAMES TURNEY

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• A Denver police officer who fatally shot Paul Childs when the 15-year-old developmentally disabled boy refused to drop a knife.

The shooting, on July 5, was Turney's second since he joined the force in 1998. The officer was also involved in the Jan. 30, 2002, fatal shooting of Gregory Smith Jr., a hearing-impaired 18-year-old armed with a knife. In both cases, the young men's families had called 911 seeking help. Turney was also investigated for allegations that he threatened to "put a bullet through the middle" of his former mother-in-law's head during a telephone conversation with her the day before he shot Childs.

Prosecutors in Iowa agreed to drop a misdemeanor harassment charge against Turney after he promised not to have any contact with the woman, Rosella Orme, for five years.

Turney, who is part Asian, benefited from his status as a minority candidate when he applied to become a police officer in 1996. Although he passed both written and oral exams, he was ranked 812th among 956 applicants.

Because of a settlement in a 1975 civil rights lawsuit that sought to diversify the department, Turney was allowed to undergo an additional set of tests, including a polygraph, a psychological evaluation and a background check.

Those results bumped him up to 158th on the list. His academy class graduated 158 officers.

PAUL CHILDS

• A 15-year-old developmentally disabled boy who had reportedly threatened his mother with a knife.

When officers arrived at his home at 5550 E. Thrill Place, Childs came to the door and refused to drop the knife. He was shot four times.

The Childs family had called Denver police 50 times in 3 ½ years.

AL LaCABE

• Denver's manager of public safety who made the final decision about Turney's discipline. LaCabe, 56, was appointed to his current position by Mayor John Hickenlooper in July.

He was an assistant U.S. attorney in Colorado and also worked as a chief deputy district attorney in Denver.

GERRY WHITMAN

• Chief of the Denver Police Department, who recommended that Turney be suspended for 20 days in connection with the Childs shooting.

In his recommendation, the chief found that Turney violated the basic duties and responsibilities of a Denver police officer.

Whitman recommended a separate five-day suspension for the allegations that Turney threatened his former mother-in-law.

Whitman, 48, became chief in the summer of 2000 after serving on an interim basis during a national search. He was reappointed as the city's top cop by Mayor John Hickenlooper, despite efforts by the police union to have him ousted. Whitman, who worked his way up through the patrol division after joining the department in 1982, has said he wants to modernize the department.

REGINALD HOLMES

• President of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, a group of black church leaders that has pushed for Turney to be taken off the streets.

After the chief's recommendation, the organization said it would support a one-year suspension. Holmes, 48, is also the pastor of the New Covenant Christian Church in Denver.

MICHAEL THOMPSON

• Paul Childs' uncle, who has become a spokesman on behalf of Childs' mother and sister.

Thompson, a 45-year-old minister, has said his family wants Turney fired.

The family is represented by attorney Johnnie Cochran, best known for successfully defending O.J. Simpson on murder charges.

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