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FinalCall.com News
National News
Activists protest decision in police shooting case
By Kim Muhammad
Updated Nov 10, 2003 - 10:45:00 PM
DENVER (FinalCall.com) - October 16, 2003 was not just the eight-year anniversary of the Million Man March (MMM), it was also the day Alvertis Simmons, head of the MMM Local Organizing Committee called for action against the district attorney’s announced decision not to prosecute a police officer who shot a 15-year-old developmentally disabled youth to death this past summer.
The July 5 shooting of Paul Childs at the hands of Asian-American Officer James Turney infuriated many in Denver’s Black community and garnered national headlines. Police reports state that the 150-pound youth moved toward officers with a knife when they were called to the home to settle a dispute. However, family witnesses, including Paul’s mother, state that he stepped away from police rather than toward them.
In any case, a confused youth was killed by four bullets ripping into his upper body.
Mr. Simmons was so outraged at the DA’s decision that he called for an Oct. 20 citywide boycott asking residents not to go to work, school or shop, and instead spend the day in their homes fasting and praying. Only a few residents supported the boycott, but hundreds turned out for a protest, that afternoon, against the DA’s decision.
Mr. Simmons and three other men organized the protest, held in front of Denver Police Department [DPD] Headquarters. The four men formed The All People’s Party (APP) in response to the Childs shooting. Through the organization, they intend to monitor police with video cameras and provide alternatives for people who are leery of calling police for assistance.
At the protest, APP members demanded the badge of Off. Turney, and when it was refused, they blocked the entrance doors of the DPD and were soon arrested. They were released shortly, after receiving citations for loitering and disobeying a lawful order.
Nevertheless, the four vowed to return until their goal was achieved. "We’re not against all officers, but these thug, rogue cops have got to go. Turney needs to be off the street," said Shareef Aleem of APP.
Officer Turney’s badge was also wanted because he was the key shooter in the death, in 2000, of another Black youth—hearing impaired, 18-year-old Gregory Smith—who was shot after he did not respond to commands to drop the pocket knife he was holding.
These incidents, along with the shooting death of Denise Washington, a mentally-impaired Black woman who was shot five times at close range by Aurora police in September, moved a number of members of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance to voice their criticism of the decision not to prosecute Mr. Turney.
"Something is terribly wrong when we legalize the murder of two developmentally disabled people. There is a higher law than what is on paper," Rev. Patrick Demmer told the enraged protestors. "We’ve got to get the gun out of [Turney’s] hand."
Also present was former Senator Penfield Tate, himself the father of a special needs child. "I think it’s important to support the family of Paul Childs. He should never have been killed. We have a problem in the [DPD] and it’s time to recommend some serious changes," he told The Final Call.
The number of police killings is such that, in a recent Rocky Mountain News article, U.S. Representative Diana DeGette, (D-CO), described them as "disturbingly high."
Adding to the emotion of the demonstration was the fact that, two days prior, Luis Manuel Rodelas-Acuna was shot to death by police, followed by conflicting witness reports. Police say the young man wielded a pick axe, but family members say police planted the weapon on him. The case is still under investigation by the DA.
The Hispanic community was well represented and vocal at the protest including activist Leroy Lemos of The Justice for Mena Committee. He became aggressively involved in the call for a civilian review board after the 1999 shooting of Ismael Mena, a Spanish-speaking Mexican immigrant who was shot to death in his home when police mistakenly stormed in during a "no knock raid" that should have been carried out in a neighboring house.
"DPD has a policy that allows officers to kill: All they have to do is say, ‘I felt fear for my life.’ But there has to be accountability. The only thing we continue to pray for is that federal receivership comes and takes over this department and cleans it out. It’s a cancer that needs immediate surgery," he said.
It appears that Elbra Wedgeworth, president of the City Council, has reached the same conclusion. She has requested the Justice Department step in and review the Childs shooting and has also corresponded with U.S. Attorney John Suthers, who is following up with the Civil Rights Commission.
