Officer's hearing delayed in Paul Childs case -Disabled Child Blown Away by Cops

Officer James Turney's hearing to appeal his 10-month suspension was postponed Wednesday so city attorneys can have more time to prepare their case. The hearing, which was to begin later this month, was pushed back to Oct. 19 - a move that drew objections from his attorneys, Doug Jewell and Jeff Clayton. In April, Manager of Safety Al LaCabe suspended Turney without pay for 10 months in the fatal shooting of Paul Childs, a developmentally disabled teen. On July 5, 2003, Turney responded to Childs' home after a report that the teen was threatening his mother with a kitchen knife. Following the announcement of Turney's suspension, Jewell said his client would appeal the suspension on the grounds that it was excessive and unjustified. During Wednesday's meeting about the case, Assistant City Attorney Karla Pierce requested a continuance, citing more than 5,000 documents and 40 videotapes she needed to review. [more ]

• According to Paul Childs' mother, Helen Childs, she had been joking around with the teen, when he came out of the kitchen clutching a knife. A family friend in the house called Denver police saying Childs was "threatening his mother". Helen said she was not concerned when police arrived around 1:00 p.m., so she went out to greet them and to explain what had been going on. She said her son, described as having developmental disabilities, learning disabilities and epilepsy, had a good relationship with police who had brought him home several times when he had wandered off. This time, however, police pulled Helen away when they saw the teenager standing in the doorway clutching the knife in front of his face. Officers ordered Childs to drop the knife. When he didn't follow the order, they opened fire. Helen Childs said "I told them, 'He's a special-needs child. Just talk to him and get the knife away."'  [more ] and  [more ]

Comments

[Officer Trevor Hettinger]

I am conducting research on police involved shootings, especially the Childs' case when I came across your little headline. I can not say that the officer was right or wrong, because I was not at the scene of this tragedy, and neither were you, therefor you can not pass judgement on something you know very little about. Police had been to that house 90 times that year before the incident...90!! There was obviously something wrong with the household and the mother abviously could not handle the child like she said she could in your article. Also, it cracks me up with the picture that was posted of Paul Childs. This kid was not built like a child. He weighed over 220 pounds and was nearly six feet tall, he was not a small little child.

This was a terrible terrible tragedy that happened. Paul Childs did not deserve to be shot, nor does anyone for that matter. But as a police officer I feel obligated to defend other officers when they are attacked and accused of "blowing" someone away. Childs' was shot on account that he made advances towards police with the knife. He did not just stand in the door way holding the knife by his face as you so put it. I wish DPD had tazzers they could have rutilized, because Paul would still be alive today and I wouldnt have to do this term paper. I love the tazzer and am a strong advocate for it.

I understand your stance and in what you believe in. Its great to see a site like yours providing information on relating stories, but I just ask one thing, please do your research before writing and provide all the facts in your stories. Thank you.