Denver’s Civil Service Commission has reaffirmed a 10-month suspension for Denver police Officer James Turney in the 2003 shooting death of Paul Childs, a disabled 15-year-old, Manager of Safety Al LaCabe said Tuesday night.
LaCabe originally imposed a 10-month suspension, finding that Turney used poor tactics when he shot and killed the knife-wielding Childs. The highly publicized shooting sparked outrage and led to dramatic police reforms.
In 2005, Turney’s punishment was reduced to a five-day suspension with a one-day fine by hearing officer John Criswell, who said Turney did not violate department policy in the moments before the shooting.
LaCabe appealed Criswell’s ruling to the full Civil Service Commission, which issued a ruling Friday reinstating the 10-month suspension.
“I obviously believe the manager of safety was correct at the time of the original decision,” LaCabe told 9News Tuesday night. “I also note that the appeals process might not yet be completed.”
Turney now has the right to appeal the latest decision in court, LaCabe added.
Neither Turney nor his attorney could be reached for comment late Tuesday.
The highly publicized discipline case has already led to reforms in the department’s use-of-force policies, LaCabe said.
He also noted “the re-emphasis in training of an officer’s responsibility to use good tactics, judgment and weigh options before employing deadly force whenever possible.”
