Denver police officers rallied at Mayor John Hickenlooper's office Monday morning to protest the 10-month suspension of an officer who shot and killed a developmentally disabled teenager last summer.

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As many as 600 police officers gathered on the steps of the City and County Building, demanding an explanation from the mayor, saying they are clearly unhappy with the way Officer James Turney has been treated.

"We're not going to ask the mayor to overturn his suspension. He can't do that," said Sgt. Mike Mosco, president of the Police Protective Association. "But tell us what he did wrong, train us so we don't get into the same situation, and let's move forward."

Safety Manager Alvin LaCabe suspended Turney last week in the July 5 death of 15-year-old Paul Childs, who was shot in the doorway of his home when he refused to drop a knife. A family member called police to report that Childs was threatening his mother with a knife.

The district attorney cleared Turney of criminal wrongdoing, saying he had reason to believe that he and another officer were in imminent danger. LaCabe said that Turney made a number of errors at the scene but did not violate the department's use of force policy.

The officers marched from Denver police headquarters to the city building, where they gathered and waited as several union representatives walked up to Hickenlooper's office to deliver a letter that outlines their concerns.

The union calls Turney's suspension excessive, and say that the suspension is a sign that the city is not on their side.

The mayor was not in the office to accept the letter and some in the crowd were upset, calling him Mayor Chickenlooper for refusing to confront the issue.

"As I said last week, I fully support Manager of Safety Al LaCabe's decision to suspend Officer Turney for 10 months. The residents of Denver understand that Officer Turney's discipline does not reflect on the rest of the police force. I look forward to meeting with our police officers to discuss the Turney case and any other issues they wish to raise," Hickenlooper said in an issued statement.

Hickenlooper said he wasn't aware of the police protest until Friday afternoon and was at a previously scheduled meeting with federal transportation officials, Colorado's congressional delegation and other metro-area mayors regarding RTD's West Corridor Plan.

The police rally was watched by members on both sides of the case.

"We're not against officers who do their jobs and do them well. What we are against is the small minority of rogue cops," said Shareef Aleem, who maintains Turney should be fired. Aleem held a sign that read, "He will kill again."

Others waved signs that read, "Paul Childs did not have to die. He should have dropped the knife," and "Support your police!"

"You know what? Police officers are human beings, too," said Laura Nuanes, who is married to a Denver police officer and came to the rally with her young daughter in a stroller. "I really think (Turney) was forced to do what he had to do. His life was threatened."

The rally at the mayor's office is the latest sign of officer disapproval. At an emotional union meeting Friday, 500 officers, including Turney, showed up to vent their frustration.

Mosco said most officers believe Turney should not have been suspended at all.

"It's created such uncertainty. Nobody will tell us exactly what he did wrong," Mosco said.

The union established a fund to financially support Turney and his wife, who is also a police officer, while he is out of work.

After the morning rally, officers returned to work. Union leaders say they oppose staging a "blue flu" -- a deliberate job slowdown.

On Sunday, a group of about 300 Denver residents rallied in City Park to support Turney's suspension and says it's time for the police department to make some policy changes.

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Community leaders discussed the importance of being involved in the electoral process and say the only way to prevent another tragedy like Childs' death is to vote for a change in the law.

"There's over 150,000-plus African Americans in this community and we've had less than 10,000 of them voting. There's something wrong with that picture," said Dr. Acen Phillips, with the Ministerial Alliance.

"I feel it's really important that we stand as elected officials, that we do whatever we can to ensure no child's life is treated as carelessly," said Denver city council president Elbra Wedgeworth.

Paul Childs' mother, Helen, listened as speakers talked about the death of her son. Her brother, Michael Thompson, said the family is grateful for the support.

The Childs family has hired celebrity attorney Johnnie Cochran, who filed a notice of intent to sue the city for $5 million.

Turney will be assigned to an administrative job when he returns from his unpaid leave. Turney and the police union are planning to appeal the suspension.

It was the second time Turney has been involved in the fatal shooting of a teen in the same neighborhood. In 2002, Turney was one of two officers who shot a partially deaf 18-year-old after the teen pulled out a pocket knife. Both officers were cleared in that case.

A new Web site by officers, called The Broken Badge, is devoted to Turney's case. The site provides a detailed defense of Turney and a direct challenge to officers to "take a stand." It is not affiliated with the police union.