DENVER — A century after he was shot and killed whereas patrolling northeast Denver, Officer James Shannon was remembered in a robust manner.
Regulation enforcement and group members gathered Friday to unveil a brand new memorial signal on the website the place Shannon misplaced his life on April 4, 1925. The 26-year-old officer was investigating a close-by holdup when he approached a person who appeared intoxicated. Shannon confiscated one firearm from the suspect, however the man was carrying a second gun, which he used to fatally shoot Shannon within the coronary heart throughout a battle.
Denver Police Museum
“The common age that an officer dies within the line of responsibility is 30,” stated Michael Hesse, president of the Denver Police Museum. “So many instances, like Officer Shannon, they don’t have a possibility to have youngsters.”
Shannon’s killer was arrested later that evening and later sentenced to life in jail. Although Shannon died simply weeks shy of his first marriage ceremony anniversary, his story has lived on; each inside his household and thru the Denver Police Museum’s ongoing memorial efforts.
The Denver Police Museum
Since its founding in 1859, the Denver Police Division has misplaced 78 officers within the line of responsibility. The museum has positioned about 40 memorial indicators all through the town on the places the place these officers died.
“We hope when individuals see these indicators, it simply serves as a reminder to them,” Hesse stated.
Shannon’s memorial drew a number of generations of kinfolk, together with great-great-niece Jenni Steinbach.
“I’ve all the time heard we had a fallen officer within the household, and he was all the time often called a hero,” she stated. “It’s actually nice to know we now have a spot to return and bear in mind him.”
Richard Butler
“He was simply so younger when his life was taken,” stated Catherine Bullock, Shannon’s grandniece. “Our dad was named after him. He’s all the time been a hero in our household.”
The memorial signal undertaking is funded by a mixture of donations from group members, law enforcement officials, and college students. Felony justice college students at Colorado Early Faculty in Denver have raised cash for greater than 10 indicators thus far.
“Once we’re honoring fallen officers, it’s like bringing them again; spreading the phrase about who they had been,” stated Joseline Banuelos, a pupil at CEC Early Faculty.
Vanessa Arreola, one other pupil, stated the category not solely gives faculty credit score by the Neighborhood Faculty of Denver, but additionally real-world connections. Their instructor, Stacey Hervey, is a former police officer who brings hands-on expertise into the classroom.
“She’s superior,” Arreola stated. “She’s all the time tailoring the category to assist us succeed.”
Richard Butler
Officer Shannon’s memorial can be put in this month on the intersection of Williams Road and Bruce Randolph Avenue, the place his life was lower brief whereas serving the town. The work to honor Denver’s fallen continues.
“We’ve executed about 40 of the 78,” Hesse stated. “And we’re persevering with to return.”
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