DPD Chief On Officer Killed: Tragic Event Will Bring Us Closer As A Community
DENVER (CBS4)- Denver Police Officer Celena Hollis was honored at a memorial service Saturday morning after she was shot and killed on duty.
"So senseless, especially a single mother with a very young child," said Denver resident Michael Mee.
Hollis was a 32-year-old single mother who had been with the Denver police force since 2005. She was shot in the head at Jazz in the Park on Sunday evening and was pronounced dead at Denver Health Medical Center.
Hollis worked at the District Two Denver Police Station. That's where people have been delivering cards, flowers and dropping off donations since her death.
The outpouring of support has overwhelmed Denver Police Chief Robert White.
"I'm expected well over 3,000 people," said White in regards to the memorial service and funeral to honor Hollis.
Thousands gathered for a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday at Denver First Church of the Nazarene located at 3800 E. Hampden Avenue.
Law enforcement officers from Detroit and Dallas attended the service. Thousands of law enforcement officers from the Denver metro area and across Colorado also attended the memorial services. The service was open to the public.
The church, funeral home and the cemetery have all donated their services. Sports Authority Field will host a reception.
"What I'm seeing here is just something that has been unmatched in my many years of doing this," said White.
Hollis began her career in Detroit and from there her family and 20 police officers traveled to Denver free of charge thanks to Frontier Airlines.
Free rooms also awaited them at the Brown Palace and other hotels owned by Sage Hospitality. The Embassy Suites also hosted other traveling officers for free.
"The citizens in this community have shown their love and their respect and their appreciation for our police department," said White.
The monetary donations continue to pour in ensuring Hollis' young daughter's future is financially secure.
"I think out of this tragic event we all become closer, as a community and as a police department," said White.
Interment was followed immediately after the memorial service at Fairmount Cemetery.
The Denver Police Department asked the community to show their support by lining the funeral procession route. The procession will be compromised of law enforcement vehicles from all over the state.
The procession route will exit the Denver First Church of the Nazarene and proceeds east on Hampden Avenue to S. Tamarac Drive then north on S. Tamarac Drive, which becomes S. Quebec. Street, then the procession concludes at the Quebec St. main entrance to Fairmount Cemetery.
Rollin Michael Oliver, 21, has been arrested in the shooting death.
Donations for Officer Hollis' daughter and family can be made to – Celena Hollis Memorial Fund
Account Number 23012705
Rocky Mountain Law Enforcement FCU
700 W. 39th Avenue
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 458-6660
