Police union pulls link to pro-Turney, anti-gay stickers

By Brian D. Crecente, Rocky Mountain News
April 27, 2004

The Denver police union's Web site linked to a bumper-sticker site Monday that provided a sticker in support of officer James Turney and another opposed to homosexuality.

The link was quickly removed when the anti-gay bumper sticker was discovered, said Mike Mosco, president of the Police Protective Association.

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Turney was recently suspended for 10 months after killing a developmentally disabled teen who walked toward him with a knife. Turney was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the shooting, but Manager of Safety Al LaCabe said that tactical mistakes were made.

Turney has appealed his suspension.

The Web site linked from the association's site provides 17 bumper stickers available for printout. The top sticker reads: "I support Denver Police Officer James Turney." Close to the bottom, another sticker reads: "Homosexuality is sexually unintelligent and morally offensive. Gay marriage degrades the integrity of society."

The Colorado Anti-Violence Program denounced the link Monday.

"The sticker is incredibly offensive," said Denise de Percin, executive director of the program. "This type of incident undermines years of work by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, the Colorado Anti-Violence Program and the Denver Police Department to build respectful and trusting relationships that help make all communities safer."

Mosco said the link to the site, located on the association's front page, was replaced with a link to an apology shortly after he was notified.

"The PPA apologizes to any group or individual who may have been offended by the information contained in a link that was found on our Web site," he said. "I learned of this link and its contents at 6 p.m, and by 6:25 p.m., I had the link removed. The PPA will review our Internet policies to ensure a similar situation does not occur in the future."

Other examples from the bumper- sticker Web page include:

"No bargains. No negotiations. No retreat. No withdrawal. Over 600 Fallujan barbarians killed."

"Liberalism is a brain disorder."

"Elect Democrats? No!"

The owner of the Web site, Planetgoofball.com, didn't return calls seeking comment.

Copyright 2004, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.