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Denver Post
Threat charge could cost officer his badge
Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - Denver police officer James Turney likely would lose his badge if convicted on an Iowa charge that he harassed his former-mother-in-law by threatening to kill her.
Even if he were exonerated in the on-duty shooting death of 15-year-old Paul Childs, Turney could lose his state certification to be a cop if the misdemeanor harassment charge holds up. All police officers in Colorado are required to have the certification in order to work. But Turney can avoid the whole issue and keep working Denver's streets by simply not going to Iowa. Prosecutors in Page County, where the charge was filed last week, have said they will not seek to extradite Turney, 29. Misdemeanor harassment is one of 42 charges for which an officer's conviction could cause the state's Police Officer Standards and Training division to revoke certification. If convicted, Turney could request a hearing to show why he should be allowed to keep his certification, POST director John Kammerzell said. Turney's lawyer, Douglas Jewell, refused to comment Monday about the Iowa case. A warrant for Turney's arrest was issued Friday on suspicion of third-degree harassment. He allegedly telephoned Rozella Orme on July 4 and threatened to "put a bullet through the middle of her head," Iowa court records show. It's unclear what prompted the telephone call. Turney was married to Orme's daughter, Teresa Orme, 31, for about 18 months until their divorce early last year. The couple has a 9-year-old son and Teresa Orme moved back to Iowa with the boy shortly after the divorce, Denver court records show. While Turney has broad visitation rights under his divorce decree, he risks arrest in Iowa if he tries to see his son, prosecutors said. Turney was suspended with pay from the Denver Police Department on July 7, pending the outcome of an internal investigation into the telephone threat. Turney could be cleared, disciplined internally or charged with a crime. "A loophole that allows an officer to ignore criminal charges in another state and continue to collect his paycheck should be plugged," said Stephen Nash, spokesman for CopWatch, a community watchdog group. "The new council and mayor need to fix this during their early honeymoon days." Turney's suspension came just two days after he shot Childs, a mentally handicapped boy. He shot Childs four times in the doorway of Childs' northeast Denver home when the boy didn't drop a knife. Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter is reviewing the incident. Two Denver police officers already have been decertified and lost their jobs because of misdemeanor convictions. They are Ronald Hughes, convicted in Denver of using unnecessary force during a 2001 arrest, and Anthony Ortiz, convicted of domestic violence in Adams County. David Migoya can be reached at dmigoya@denverpost.com or 303-820-1506.
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