Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO) Copyright: 2000 Denver Publishing Co. Contact: 400 W. Colfax, Denver, CO 80204 Website: http://www.denver-rmn.com/ Author: John C. Ensslin, Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n031/a01.html 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 --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D