Disability advocate honored among fallen Denver police officers at memorial ceremony

A new name was etched into stone Thursday at the Denver Police Memorial honoring officers who died in the line of duty In this Dec photo Dale Coski a policewoman who was injured in auto accident is pictured with her dog Persey short for perseverance Photo by Susan Biddle The Denver Post Dale Coski was working as a Denver police officer in when she was hit by a car while assisting a stalled bicycle on Interstate She died on Sept at She was a hero and a true pioneer for our population Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas noted during the Thursday morning ceremony Not only in her role as a Denver police officer but in the way she went on to strongly advocate for people with disabilities throughout her remaining years Coski s life was cut short by the injuries she received in the crash Thomas commented State and federal flags flapped in the wind at half-staff behind Thomas during his speech Colorado Gov Jared Polis ordered all flags to be lowered on Thursday in honor of Peace Officer Memorial Day Thomas declared each name carved into the memorial represents a true hero We all know the risks of this job and these heroes took their oaths regardless he noted Coski was the th name added to Denver s memorial All names were read aloud before Thursday s ceremony continued with a white dove release a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace by former Denver police Sgt Scott Hughes a -gun salute taps and a flyover Police representatives also recognized former Denver officer Andrew William Duarte who was shot and killed in February while responding to an ongoing shooting at a Pennsylvania hospital Before he transferred to Pennsylvania s West York Borough Police Department Duarte worked for five years at the Denver Police Department and received a hero award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his DUI enforcement efforts in Colorado Denver Lt Kristy Garcia noted Duarte s name was not added to Denver s memorial but he was recognized as a fallen officer in Pennsylvania Garcia announced Related Articles Denver police officer accused of assault harassment in Douglas County Man arrested in Denver shooting that injured near Coors Field injured in stabbings across Denver this week -year-old charged as adult in fatal Lowry Field shooting Missing Denver girl last seen in Sunnyside unveiled safe Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter