It was a party Donnie Young would have loved.
Colleagues, partners, friends and some who never knew the slain Denver detective came together Thursday night for a sports-themed celebration and fundraiser at a downtown nightclub.
Young’s widow said the support, from the benefits to the phone calls and cards, has made all the difference.
“It’s helping me and the two girls get through this,” Kelly Young said at the party. “It’s all helping us. It’s making us stronger every day.”
Donald “Donnie” Young smiled broadly from photos projected on screens at Beyond, a club in the Denver Pavilions, as people mingled and shared memories over beers.
“That’s how he was,” said Detective Jack Bauer, pointing out a picture of Young smiling as he graduated from the police academy. “He was a special dude. Everybody who met him just loved him.”
Denver Broncos cheerleaders signed autographs. A silent auction had an autographed John Elway jersey, Joe Sakic puck and Todd Helton game bat among other items.
The music was pumping.
The only thing missing was Donnie Young.
“Everybody’s coming together for a great cause. This represents a lot of the stuff Donnie loved to do,” said Detective John “Jack” Bishop, who was shot with Young on May 8 but was saved by a bulletproof vest.
Bishop and his wife, Diane, said they’re grateful for all the support from the community.
“People really care,” Diane Bishop said. “That’s really important, not just for Jack but for the entire department.”
Some officers were wearing their support on their sleeves – literally. Officer Bobby Waidler and his fiancée printed T-shirts in Young’s memory with the number 60 on the back. That’s how many Denver police officers have been killed in the line of duty.
Waidler has sold 1,100 shirts at $20 apiece. All the proceeds go to the Young family. The officer said he’ll be selling more shirts at future fundraisers, such as a Harley-Davidson rally and a hockey game.
Officers donated some of the auction items. The young sons of one officer donated an autographed photo.
“There are some very from- the-heart things happening here,” said Detective Snow White.
Kelly Young said putting on the event was good therapy for all the officers who wanted to do something to help.
“This is going to help everyone who knew him, or didn’t know him but believe in what he believed,” she said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get together.”
For some officers, it was the first time they had been together since Young’s funeral.
“You get so busy with your life. You take things for granted,” Bauer said. Something like this brings you back to reality.”
Despite the hugs and the laughs, Donnie Young’s friends are not OK. Things are different. Bishop, healed from the contusion he suffered and said he’s doing a bit better now but is far from recovered.
“Physically, yeah, I’m better,” Bishop said. “Just physically.”
Staff writer Sean Kelly can be reached at 303-820-1858 or skelly@denverpost.com.
