TALK SHOW BOYCOTT URGED

Police Union Angry At Cover-Up Allegation

Denver's police union said Thursday that it will ask its members to boycott
radio talk show host Peter Boyles and his sponsors.

The call came in reaction to a show on KHOW-AM Thursday during which a
retired FBI agent alleged criminal wrongdoing and a police cover-up in the
death of a 45-year-old immigrant shot during a "no-knock" drug raid.

"Peter is smarter than this," said John Wyckoff, spokesman for the Denver
Police Protective Association. "Peter does not have to stoop to this."

Boyles defended the show, saying he invited private investigator Jim
Kearney to discuss the case after reading newspaper stories about his
allegations of a police cover-up.

"I didn't even know the guy was going to say what he said," Boyles said.
"I'm somehow made responsible for what people say on the show?"

Wyckoff said he did not hear the program, but got phone calls all day about
allegations made on the air by Kearney, a private investigator who was
hired by the family of Ismael Mena.

However, the family's attorney, Robert Maes, said Thursday that Kearney no
longer works for him.

SWAT officers shot and killed Mena while conducting a raid at 3738 High St.
Police said he fired at officers after refusing their demand to drop his
handgun.

Neighbors have alleged that police raided the wrong house. A special
prosecutor is investigating both the shooting and the warrant used to
conduct the raid.

Kearney contends police shot through the wall and door of Mena's bedroom
without being able to see him.

Wyckoff said the union also plans to ask the station to review the tapes of
the broadcast and "take appropriate action."

"We're not asking them to fire the guy," Wyckoff said.

KHOW Program Director Don Martin said no one from the union had contacted him.

Contact John Ensslin at (303) 892-5291 or ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com