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DPD Officers Injured During East High Protest Identified

DENVER (CBS4)- Early Wednesday afternoon, physicians at Denver Health Medical Center were operating on Denver Police Officer John Adsit, 35, after he was seriously injured while assisting with a protest on Colfax Avenue by students from East High School.

John Adsit
Officer John Adsit (credit: CBS)

"He's a good guy, intelligent and driven," said a fellow officer who knows Adsit.

officer hurt
An image of one of the officers who was hurt (credit: Univision)

Adsit is a District 6 officer assigned to the bike unit. He was listed in critical condition. Several fellow officers say Adsit is married and has children. He has been a member of the Denver Police Department soccer team and played in a 2013 charity soccer game to raise money for the Denver Police Orphans Fund .

RELATED: East High Students Walk Out Of Class To Protest Ferguson Decision

A department official said Adsit's family had been notified of the Colfax incident.

Adsit was one of four officers injured when a car plowed into them as they escorted high school students who were protesting recent events in Ferguson, Mo.

DPD BIKE UNIT
DPD Bike Unit (credit: Denver Police)

"It is not our best day," said Denver Police Chief Robert White.

Police sources say early Wednesday afternoon, Adsit was in surgery.

RELATED: 4 Denver Officers Hit By Vehicle While Escorting Students During Protest

A second bike patrol officer, Darren Ulrich, also received serious injuries. The two other officers struck received minor injuries.

DPD officer
Denver Police Officer Darren Ulrich (credit: Denver Police)

Police records show that both Adsit and Ulrich have previously received official department commendations. Ulrich has been with the Denver police department since 1997.

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