MENA LAWSUIT WILL UNCOVER THE TRUTH

Regarding John C. Lepant's letter in the Jan. 28 News, "Pertinent
facts about Ismael Mena omitted," I am obligated to respond.

Ismael Mena was not a fugitive, he was not wanted in Mexico for
killing a 16-year-old boy, he was not hiding in Denver to escape
Mexican police, and he did not evade Mexican police. These statements
are reckless and totally false, but I do not blame Lepant for his ignorance.

I blame the Denver Police Department administration for its
unwillingness to be forthcoming with the truth, I blame homicide and
internal affairs investigators for failing to conduct an honest
inquiry, I blame the police for a campaign of public misinformation
and character assassination against Mena, and I blame The Denver Post
and 9News' Paula Woodward for reporting lies about Mena and then, upon
being confronted with the truth, failing to run stories to correct
themselves.

With the recent filing of a civil lawsuit against the people who
killed Mena, as well as those who conspired to cover it up, the public
will finally learn the truth of what happened that fateful day for the
Mena family and those culpable will be held accountable. Mena was in
Denver working hard to support his family. Nothing more, nothing less.

LeRoy Lemos,

Justice for Mena Committee,

Denver