As Gary Craven carved Donald R. Young’s name into the memorial for fallen police officers, some of Young’s colleagues softly cried, hugged and whispered – their emotions and a black ribbon on the memorial expressing respect and the loss of a friend and co-worker.
Young was the 60th name engraved on the memorial in front of Denver police headquarters.
Above Young’s name were those of others whose tragic and violent deaths have shaken Denver in recent years. Robert Wallis. Shawn Leinen. Ronald DeHerrera. Bruce VanderJagt.
The names were highlighted by a brilliant morning sun that added to the solemnity of Craven’s work and sense of loss for an officer who won the Medal of Honor for saving two kidnap victims in 1994.
One detective, a no-nonsense officer, shifted from foot to foot, his face red, tears flowing down his cheeks.
Young was killed early Sunday, shot in the back of his head at a baptismal party as he worked off-duty. Police have identified Raul Garcia-Gomez, 19, as a suspect.
Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman said that as Young’s name was added to the 14-year- old memorial, he was on the phone with Young’s widow, Kelly Young, describing what was taking place.
“She is overwhelmed by the support she is getting,” Whitman said.
Sharon Sekerak, a civilian employee of the Police Department, had called Erickson Monuments and asked them to add Young’s name as quickly as possible.
“I wanted it put up there before his funeral. I thought it should be up there,” Sekerak said.
Sekerak noted that today is the day 400 people were to have attended Denver’s commemoration of Peace Officers Memorial Day, part of National Police Week. The ceremony has been canceled because of a funeral Mass for Young today.
The untimely juxtaposition only compounded the tragedy for Sekerak. In 1997, it was she who called Erickson Monuments after VanderJagt was ambushed, also shot in the head.
Craven, who was working for Erickson, said he has been adding names to police, state patrol and firefighters memorials for 19 years.
He said he adds two to three officers a year and three to four firefighters a year, depending on how bad the fire season is.
Craven said he does his best in adding the names.
“It’s there forever. So you do the best job possible,” Craven said.
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-820-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
