Organizers Of City Park Jazz Say Show Will Go On

DENVER (CBS4) - Organizers of City Park Jazz will dedicate Sunday's concert to slain Denver police officer Celena Hollis.

Hollis died after being shot in the head at the concert on June 24. She had worked security at the event since she moved to Denver and joined the police department seven years ago. That's the same time current City Park Jazz president Chris Zacher joined the organization. They spoke every week.

"I had a conversation with her shortly before she was shot," Zacher said. "If I would have known it was the last conversation I was going to have with her, I probably would have given her a hug."

The Sunday evening events started in the mid-1980s when violence hit City Park. The idea was to bring the community together to take back the park.

"Ending this event would go against everything it was formed to do," Zacher said. "This park is safe, this city is safe. There are problems going on we all know about but it doesn't mean you have to stay inside and lock your doors."

That's why Zacher said putting the emphasis on Officer Hollis is the right thing to do.

"Everyone needs to come out in solidarity for Officer Hollis."

A vigil will be held for the officer at 5 p.m. before the already scheduled concert on Sunday.

The funeral for Officer Hollis is scheduled for Saturday at the Denver First Church of the Nazarene at 11 a.m. She will be buried at Farimount Cemetery.

A fund has been set up for her 12-year-old daughter. Those donations can be made at the Rocky Mountain Law Enforcement Federal Credit Union to the Celena Hollis Memorial Fund. The account number is 23012705.