Denver Post

Denver Post

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Denver Police shooting

Thursday, July 10, 2003 -

No imminent threat

Re: "Shooting provokes outrage," July 7 news story.

The fatal shooting of 15-year-old Paul Childs by the Denver Police Department is just another depressing example of the misuse of lethal force. It would appear that the notion of an "imminent threat" has been completely tossed out the window. Although Childs had a knife in hand, he posed no "imminent threat" to the officers if he was merely stationary at his front door. It would appear the officers were not adequately prepared to deal with the situation.

There are many non-lethal alternatives to metal bullets, such as Taser guns, rubber bullets, tear gas and concussion grenades.

Paul Childs will never be able to have his second chance in society. I do not understand why lethal force was used as a first resort and I believe an independent investigation of the case is the only way to hold the police department accountable for its actions.

PHIL TURNER

Denver


All threats are serious

The shooting of Paul Childs was a terrible tragedy, but people have to remember some things that the police are faced with on a daily basis.

If police had to undergo training in every possible situation, it would take recruits years - not months - to complete their intense training.

We have to remember that Childs' sister called the police for help with her brother, who was walking around with a knife and threatening their mother. How many situations just like this could have ended up with the mother and the sister dead? How are the police supposed to know when this is a real threat? Understandably, the police have to treat every call as a serious threat because they are laying down their lives every day, dealing with the worst of the worst.

G. POUND

Denver


Cops should take risk

I find it disturbing that the Denver Police Department can make humorous comments at a time of such tragedy. I'm referring to the statement of Cmdr. Mike O'Neill, who said, "The last thing we want to do is take a life." What a joke.

The last thing the police want to have happen is to lose an officer or have one wounded. Their first priority is to ensure the safety of the officers, not the public. That is why police are trained to shoot at center mass (where the heart, lungs and vital organs are located) and to continue firing until a threat is "neutralized." Hence the ongoing slaughter of citizens holding toy guns and sticks, and citizens with mental illness who wave knives around after calling the police because they are feeling suicidal. And hence the killing of a 15-year-old mentally disabled boy.

If the police were truly "putting their lives on the line," perhaps they would assume the risk of an injury that comes with their job and not blow away a child as the first avenue of recourse. Their job (which they volunteered for) is to serve and protect. It can entail risk; if they don't want to assume that risk, they should go into another line of work.

PAUL C. CRANE

Boulder

The writer is a deputy state public defender.


Mother's nightmare

My heart and deepest condolences go out to the family of Paul Childs. What happened to Paul is my own worst nightmare. Parents of kids with disabilities have an enormous job on their hands. I have had to give my own son, who is mildly developmentally disabled and 20 years old, actual lessons on what to do and what not to do if a police officer stops him - among many other lessons about how to cope in a world where most people do not understand him.

I, too, have tried to rely on the police (Aurora) to help me. I expected a helpful response like my parents would have gotten in my hometown when I asked police to "give him a talkin' to." The response I received from police here was, "We don't do that, ma'am. You need to see a counselor." My son has been harassed by police, and at times when I have tried to talk to officers about my son's disability, they reply that they have to follow the law without consideration.

Of course, this is not the good old days anymore. In fact, those days weren't so good. Kids like ours were institutionalized for life. But at least if you had a problem with your child, you could expect the police would give him that "talkin' to" you requested. Instead, we are treated like parents who have no control over our kids, like there is some other answer out there. Everyone passes the buck.

The fact is, it does take a village to raise our kids and to mainstream them into society. The police should be an important part of this process. If my son gets lost and confused, I would hope that a police officer would guide him home. If my son is being harassed by other people (which happens nearly every day that he is out in the world), I would hope a police officer would take those other kids home to their parents to give them that "talkin' to."

RENEE BEAUREGARD

Aurora