Pubdate: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 THE WRONG SITE FOR A DRUG BUST Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey was right to criticize a gang task force for setting up a potentially dangerous drug bust in the middle of the afternoon in a well-used city park. In fact, the operation did turn violent, with the suspect drawing a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol when uniformed officers arrived. Joseph Valverde was then shot dead by an officer. It's unfortunate that this suspected drug trafficker lost his life, but the incident could have been worse. What if the gunfire that erupted in a parking lot near Overland Pond Park had strayed and hit other people who were merely enjoying the park or riding on the nearby bike trail? The Metro Gang Task Force surely should have understood the risks of buying 2 kilos of cocaine from someone who authorities said was also a known gun trafficker. We don't disagree with Morrissey's finding that the officer who shot Valverde was justified in doing so. But it was refreshing to see the district attorney go beyond the bare bones of that issue and offer well-founded criticism of police strategy. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom