Two cops help blind, suicidal teen and become his friend

On a school day last year, two Denver Police Department officers responded to a 911 call about a teenager who was contemplating suicide.

When they arrived, a mother was astonished to learn that her 15-year-old son had a told a teacher he wasn’t sure he wanted to live. The boy, who is legally blind, was being bullied at school.

Officers Monique Sedberry and Alicia Martinez stepped in. They talked privately with the boy and convinced him he would be OK, and then his parents took him to a hospital for treatment.

“He’s not just any 15-year-old getting bullied,” Sedberry said. “He absolutely was unable to defend himself. He needed us to defend him.”

On Wednesday, Sedberry and Martinez received awards from the Citizens Appreciate Police, a nonprofit that recognizes officers who go beyond their regular duties to help people. Another eight officers were recognized for their annual tradition of providing Christmas presents and food to a family in need.

Each officer recognized Wednesday works in the Police Department’s District Four, which covers southwest Denver.

“As a commander, it makes me very, very proud of what they do,” said Cmdr. Mark Fleecs, who oversees the district. “They’re not only crime fighters. They do other good things for their community.”

Sedberry and Martinez didn’t just talk to the boy on that day. They became his friend. And he is doing much better.

The officers have attended his karate matches and Junior ROTC parades and have made visits to his home just to say hi. They’ve bought him new shoes and school supplies for him and his siblings. The officers and the boy talk weekly, Sedberry said.

“We let him know his life is precious,” she said. “I gave him my card and said, ‘You call me if you need me.'”

The eight cops who make sure a family enjoys Christmas are Sgt. Timothy Hyatt and officers Fernando Benavides, Christopher Parton, Kyle McNabb, Joseph Heckenkamp, Christopher Valderrama, Alexis Aranda and Rueban Garduno.

Last year, they chose to provide presents and a dinner to the family of Lizuly Torres and Eddie Roman. Torres was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and died within a few months of her diagnosis in 2017. She left behind her husband, Roman, and their 7year-old and 1-year-old sons.

Aranda noticed a flyer on social media asking for community help. She got in touch with family friends and then shared the story with her fellow officers.

“As a team, it tugged all of our heartstrings,” she said.