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23AUGUST2014BODYOFCHRISTNEWSPastorHenryMilesfoundedBethlehemMissionaryBaptistChurchin1964inabuildingonWilliamsStreetinnowCityParkWest.ThejourneytothatconsecrationbeganyearsearlierinSt.LouisMissouriwhenhereceivedavisioncallinghimtothatwork.WithhiswifeThelmaheopenedthechurchwithafewparishionersandaflockofchildrenthatbecametheyouthchoir.ThechurchgrewandflourishedunderPastorMilessdirectionandFirstLadyThelmasmusicalleadership.FollowingseveralmovesintheinterimBMBCset-tledatamobilehomeat32ndandHighStreet.Yearsoffundraisingculminatedinanewbuildingonthatsitethatthecongregationownsoutright.TherecognitionceremonyhonorsPastorMilesforhisleadershipandtheministryandcomforthehasprovidedforhiscongregationforover50yearsthroughmanyhardships.PastorMilesisknownforhisquestforsalvationhisselflessnessandforgivingprioritytohospitalfamilyandnursinghomevisits.Thecongregationisverythankfulforhisteachingsspiritualnourishmentguid-anceandcaring.TheceremonyisonSaturdayAugust16attheDenverRenaissanceHotelat38thandQuebec.Doorsopenat11a.m.fortheawardpresentationbytheDenverSeminaryandlunch.AfterlunchPastorPaulBurlesonoftheFriendshipBaptistChurchofChristJesuswillgiveakeynoteaddress.Ifyouwouldliketoshareinthisceremonyofthanksticketsarestillavailableat40.Callthechurchofficeat303-295-6688formoreinformation.AJourneyThrough50YearsChristJurisdictionofColoradotoldBodyofChristNews.PastorDemmerhasexperiencewithoverthetoplawenforcementHisniecethedaughterofhisbrotherBishopJerryL.Demmerwaswoundedwhenapolicemanfiredhisweaponintoacrowdinanattempttoapprehendasuspect.AndrecentlypoliceshotaHispanicmanashewasleavingafuneralhome.Themanwasbeingsoughtinconnectionwithanoutstandingwarrantpolicesaid.EvenwheninvestigationsintosuchincidentsdooccurjusticedoesnotseemtobeappliedequallytolawenforcementmembersDemmersaid.IthasbeenfouryearssinceMarvinBookerwaskilledDemmersaid.TheCoronersofficedeclareditahomicide.DenverDistrictCourtwouldnotallowtheSherriffsDepartmenttobewithoutliabilityforhisdeath.Thecityappealedthatdecisionuptothe10thCircuitCourtofAppeals.Afterayearthe10thCircuitCourtofAppealsverymeticulouslylaidoutthefactthatfivesheriffsdeputiesweredirectlyresponsibleforMarvinBookersdeathandthattheyhadviolatedtheirowndepartmentspoliciesandprocedures.HoweverPastorDemmercontinuesRichMorrisonattheDistrictAttorneysOfficesaidtherewasnothinginappropriateandnoviolationofpolicy.TheSheriffsDepartmentincludingSheriffWilsonsaidtherewerenoviolationsofpolicy.AtthattimetheManagerofSafetyAlexMartinezalsosaidtherewasnoviolation.AndtheindependentmonitoratthattimeRichardRosenthalfoundnoviolationofpolicy.ThePoliceDepartmentwhorevieweditalsosaidtherewasnoviolationofpolicy.Obviouslytherewasaviolationofpolicyforthe10thCircuitCourtandtheDistrictCourttosaytherewasaclearvio-lationofpolicyandprocedures.Thereforeitwouldappearthatallofourcitydepartmentswerecoveringitup.Andifthatissoitgoesbeyondthelevelofacover-upallthewaytocorruption.WealsosawthetapejustsettledaboutJamalHunterwasvictimizedbythecallousmannerinwhichtheSherriffsDepartmentallowedotherinmatestopunishhimandbeathimandscaldhimsaysPastorDemmerHewasawarded3.5M.JudgeCainesaidhewascallingforandhaswantedtheJusticeDepartmenttocomeinandlookintoourSherriffsDepartmentandPoliceDepartment.ThemembersoftheColoradoConcernedClergyareinfavorofthisscrutinyandaskingforaninvestigationbytheJusticeDepartment.Idontbelievethepolicecanpolicethepolice.ItjustdoesntworkreiteratesPastorDemmerAndtheIndependentMonitorsOfficeisntreallyinde-pendent.IamsorrythatSherriffWilsonlosthisjobhebecamethesacrificiallambforadepartmentthathassystemicproblemsofabuse.Firinghimdoesnotchangetheproblem.Neverthelessweknewsome-bodywasgoingtolosetheirjob.Butthatdoesntchangeanything.TheonlywaythattherewillbeachangeisthattheSherriffhastohavethepowertodisciplineandtofiredeputies.TheSheriffmusthavethepowerandauthoritytomakeseriousreprimandsthatarenotreversedbyCareerServices.BecausemanytimeseveniftheManagerofSafetysOfficeortheMayorsOfficecomeinandfireordisciplinetheseindividualsforexampleashappenedinthecaseofPaulChildsthedisciplineislateroverruled.Then-MayorHickenlooperandthen-ManagerofSafetymetedoutdisciplineagainsttheofficerthatwenttoofarinkillingPaulChilds.AndyetwhenCivilServicereviewedittheyreversedthedecision.CivilServiceoverseesthepoliceandCareerServicesoverseestheSheriffs.Bothofthemaremorepronetogoalongwithwhateverthepoliceofficersorsher-iffsdeputiesdo.Thatsaproblem.OurIndependentMonitorisnotreallyindependent.HeispaidbytheCityhiredbytheMayorandthereforenotinde-pendent.PastorDemmerwouldliketoseetheSheriffsDepartmentunifiedwiththepolicedepartmentunderCivilServiceandthattheirpaystructurewouldbeequaltothepoliceofficers.HesaysSincetheyareentrustedwithoverseeingpeoplewhoaregoingtojailtheyhaveagunandtherighttoshootapersonandtheauthoritytoarrestweneedthemtobeunderthesametypeofscrutiny.ThatmeanstheheadSheriffneedstohavethesamekindofpowerthatthePoliceChiefhas.PastorDemmerrelatesWhenPoliceChiefWhitecameinhereshuffledandchangedthewholetoppartoftheadministrationofthePoliceDepartmentsoitwasclearthathewasincharge.TheSheriffcannotdothatbecauseofCareerServices.Thatneedstobechanged.TheIndependentMonitorneedstobetrulyindependentandsoseparatedfromtheSheriffsDepartmentthePoliceDepartmentandeventheFireDepartmentinordertomakecriticalhonestjudgmentcalls.AsIndependentMonitorRosenthalsaidtherewasnoviolationPastorDemmerremindsusHoweveroneofthelaststatementshemadewhenhewasquittingandmovingonwasthattheMarvinBookercaseneededtobelookedatagain.Thattellsmethataslongashewasinthepositionhedidntfeelempoweredtosaythat.Butashewasleavinganddidnthavetoworryaboutwhohehadtoreporttohebecamemorehonest.Weneedpeoplewhocanbehonestfromdayone.Weneedpeoplewhoarenottooclosetothetreestoseetheforest.WeneedeverydepartmentofcitygovernmentfromtheMayorsOfficeondowntobereallytrans-parentwiththecommunityDemmersaid.IhavesatinmeetingswithallthepowersthatbeinourcitygovernmentwhenweweretherewiththeMinisterialAllianceaboutabusecasesandtheysometimeswouldnteventelluswhatwasgoingon.WedidntevenknowaboutJamalHunterscase.Theydidnttellusaboutsomeoftheseotherinfractionsthathadtakenplace.WeneedaD.A.sOfficethatcanlookatthepoliceandsheriffsobjectivelyandexercisethesamesenseofrightandwrongwiththemastheydowithcitizens.PastorP.L.DemmercanbecontactedthroughGrahamMemorialCommunityChurchofGod.HOLDDEPUTIESACCOUNTABLE...frompage1Idontbelievethepolicecanpolicethepolice.Itjustdoesntwork.