Aurora – Among the 200 or so people who came to honor fallen police officer Doug Byrne today was a young teen who had felt Byrne’s influence better than most.
Fifteen-year-old Brandon Cadena met Byrne when he was about 6.
Brandon lived in Glendale, where Byrne was on the force three years ago, before he got a job in Aurora. The officer, Brandon recalled, was always first on the scene to any call in his neighborhood. He would even stop by to give Brandon Christmas presents. When he was no older than 7 or 8, Brandon said he and Byrne would “take” radar together to catch speeders. The youngster proudly wore the police cap Byrne gave him around the neighborhood.
“He was my friend,” Brandon said today outside a public memorial at Aurora Police Headquarters, where Brandon clutched four pictures of himself and Byrne in various poses from his younger days. “I saw him every day.”
“Even more now, I want to be a cop.”
Byrne had that effect on those he touched. That was apparent at the memorial, where those who knew him and others who didn’t came to pay their respects to the Aurora officer and former Marine who died early Monday after responding to a call of a man having a seizure.
“One day (God), you walked out to your rose garden and plucked one of your favorite roses,” said the Rev. James Coleman of the Trinity Church of God and Christ. “We are so proud that you chose Doug as an example for all of us to follow.”
Coleman was among the several clergy members who said prayers and offered words of encouragement to Byrne’s family and the department.
Coleman knew Byrne personally. He would see him on the street where Coleman ministered and would always stopped to see if the reverend needed anything.
“He’d always ask if I was OK, to call him if I needed any help,” Coleman recalled.
Also at the memorial were Byrne’s parents, Don and Barbara Byrne. A few hours earlier, the couple gave a brief statement to the media at the Tallyn’s Reach library in southeast Aurora.
“If you were ever in a situation where you had to call 911 and you needed help, you’d want Doug at your doorstep,” his father said. “I guarantee you.”
At the end of the ceremony, several doves were released into the air to honor Byrne.
Police Chief Dan Oates thanked everyone for their thoughts and prayers.
“The outpouring of support from the community is truly staggering,” Oates said. “This means a great deal to the department to have this day of grieving and condolences.
Staff writer Carlos Illescas can be reached at 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
