Appeal heard in Childs shooting: Denver Police Officer may be Punished for Killing 14 Year Old Disabled Black Boy

 
A Denver police discipline case that has already set reforms in motion took another step toward its conclusion Thursday night. The Civil Service Commission heard oral arguments in the city's appeal of a hearing officer's sharp reduction in punishment meted out to officer James Turney by Safety Manager Al LaCabe in the shooting death of a disabled teenager in July 2003. The shooting of Paul Childs, 15, has already resulted in LaCabe setting up a 30-member committee to develop a new disciplinary system for Denver police. Police Chief Gerry Whitman had recommended a 20-day suspension for Turney, who shot and killed the knife-wielding Childs. But LaCabe imposed a 10-month suspension, finding that Turney used poor tactics and could have defused the situation by closing the front door while Childs was standing just inside the doorway to the home. The hearing officer, retired state appeals Judge Paul Criswell, reduced the suspension to five days and added a fine of one day's pay, all for unrelated improper use of a cellphone the day before the shooting. Criswell ruled "that no reasonable Denver police officer with officer Turney's training and background would have thought of this tactic (closing the door)." He also said the officer had no "prior notice" that tactical error could result in discipline. [more] and [more]