Two officers who were murdered more than 80 years ago were honored this morning for the first time at an annual memorial for fallen Denver police officers.
William H. Cabler, 64, was shot on April 21, 1916 near 46th Avenue and Lafayette Street, while he was responding on horseback to a train robbery.
When Cabler chased the two robbers, Fred Jones shot him to death. He was captured and sentenced to life in prison.
Nearly five years later, patrol officer William O. Steam was patrolling dance halls and saloons downtown when Keil O’Neill entered a dance hall from behind where Steam was taking a break playing cards.
O’Neill yelled “I’ve got you Steam,” and shot him twice from behind.
O’Neill was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but he was paroled in 1935.
The two officers have previously been overlooked. At a ceremony this morning at police headquarters an honor guard gave a 21-gun salute for a total of 63 Denver police officers who have been killed.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
