By Sarah Langbein, Rocky Mountain News
April 17, 2004

Hundreds of Denver police officers and their families are expected to show up Monday morning on Mayor John Hickenlooper's doorstep in support of suspended officer James Turney. And they're inviting the community to join them.

This decision came Friday afternoon as nearly 500 officers, including Turney and his wife, Trista, met at Police Protective Association headquarters. The officers rallied behind Turney for receiving what they called an excessive, unjust reprimand in the July shooting of 15-year-old Paul Childs, who was wielding a knife when police responded to a call at his home.

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On Thursday, Manager of Safety Al LaCabe said Turney's suspension hinged on his tactical decisions leading up to the shooting. LaCabe said Turney should have closed the door to the Childs' home and walked away when the house had been cleared of everyone but Paul Childs.

"They want to go down and speak with the mayor," said Sgt. Mike Mosco, association president, standing in front of a mass of nodding cops. "We're going to support Jim Turney."

The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Mosco and Chief Gerry Whitman also announced that, contrary to rumors, officers will continue to do their jobs.

"There's not going to be a work slowdown," Whitman said. "There's not going to be a 'Blue Flu.' "

The association met for close to an hour, venting concerns about LaCabe's decision to suspend Turney for 10 months and saying the reason is still unclear to them.

"We deserve an explanation so that officers can learn from this experience," said Rich Blea, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 41.

The police believe the decision was politically motivated and say it will force them to second-guess their own policing.

"The officers realize that it affects each and every officer," Blea said. "We have to make split-second decisions. It's just part of our jobs. The officers want to know where they stand."

Whitman also has concerns.

"I'm worried about the fact that officers will hesitate when they need to react," he said.

If the officers invite him to the meeting, Whitman said he will go. "I dress the same way they do," he said.

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