Six cops recognized for service
Six Denver police officers were recognized Wednesday for heroism that didn’t involve guns or fistfights. Instead, these officers dipped into their pockets or spare time to help people going through difficulties, the Denver Police Department said in a news release.
Mayor Michael Hancock presented certificates of appreciation to the six officers, and they were recognized as quarterly recipients of the Citizens Appreciate Police award, which was started in 1978 to recognize officers who serve the public beyond their regular duties. The six officers recognized were Lt. Jeff Martinez, Cpl. Timothy Scudder and officers Henry Jones, Juan Gamboa, Edward Pacheco Jr. and Rueban Garduno. They were recognized for the following actions:
Lt. Jeff Martinez organized a clothing drive at the Denver Police Department to benefit Suits for Success, a nonprofit that provides business attire for men and helps them with job interview skills.
Officer Henry Jones, who is assigned to Denver International Airport, bought a $556 round-trip plane ticket for an Army private who was trying to get home for her grandfather’s funeral. The soldier bought a ticket through a fraudulent booking company and it was not recognized by the airline.
Officers Juan Gamboa and Edward Pacheco Jr. were on patrol in southeast Denver on a cold morning in December 2016 when they saw two boys walking to school without coats. Gamboa and Pacheco stopped to talk to the boys and afterward went to a store and bought them coats.
Cpl. Timothy Scudder hosted 6-year-old Olivia Gant and her family for a day on the police force so Olivia could live out her dream to “catch a bad guy with police.” Olivia received a uniform and badge and rode in Scudder’s patrol car where they caught a pretend “bad guy” and put her in handcuffs. Scudder had met Olivia and her family through his church. Olivia, who had a rare disease, died in August.
Officer Rueban Garduno gave a police escort to a high school senior who had been cleared for release from a hospital just an hour before his graduation ceremony. The student has muscular dystrophy and had been hospitalized for treatment of a broken leg and other health issues.
NS