Colorado’s wildfires have diverted attention from other issues and events — understandably so — but the funeral today of Denver police officer Celena Hollis is a reminder of the devastating fact that a City Park Jazz concert ended Sunday in gunshots and death, and that the suspect claims to have gang ties.
Now, we have no desire to sensationalize the threat of Denver’s youth gangs. They destroy lives, to be sure, and not only those of innocent victims injured or murdered merely by virtue of straying into their path. Those who participate in gangs also pay a heavy price — in stunted potential at the very least, and sometimes lengthy stints in prison.
On the other hand, Sunday’s senseless violence by a young man with a gun — whether gang related or not — is a recording we’ve all heard before. Yet nothing much seems to change. In fact, this community’s memory of similar incidents is one of the reasons that Hollis’ killing is so depressing.
As Terrance Roberts of the Prodigal Son Initiative told a Denver Post reporter, “This issue for the northeast Denver community is a persistent issue,” and, indeed, “we have been dealing with this for a quarter of a century.”
But of course just because an issue is persistent doesn’t mean we should simply learn to live with it. Mayor Michael Hancock was right to insist, after meeting with community groups, “We need to be focused. … Parents and community members, we have to work to get the weapons out of the hands of the young people.”
Back in 1993’s “Summer of Violence,” Gov. Roy Romer called a special session of the legislature to deal with what was perceived as an outbreak of deadly crime by juveniles. Nothing so dramatic is needed today — but neither should we simply lower our heads and move on.
If anyone is looking for extra motivation in the effort to combat youth violence, they need only recall Hollis herself. By all accounts, the 32-year-old officer, mother and resident of Green Valley Ranch was a remarkable woman — dedicated to her profession, her daughter and her city.
“Her smile warmed everyone’s heart, and she brought a smile to everyone’s face,” said Sgt. Joe Unser, who had worked with her in District 2. “She had wisdom beyond her years, and it showed in her personal and professional relationships.”
Hollis was part of a Special Crime Attack Team and had honed her skills at defusing potentially violent confrontations. Perhaps not surprisingly, her last act seems to have been an attempt to break up a fight, only to be shot in the head as a result.
We know we join all of Denver — and indeed Colorado — in saluting the memory of this outstanding public servant.
