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High School Football Team Honors Fallen State Trooper During Playoffs

By Jeff Todd

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- A Jefferson County High School isn't just taking on the top seed in Friday's 5-A playoffs, they're playing for their coach and his "other family."

Colorado State Patrol Major Josh Downing works at the Colorado State Patrol Headquarters and volunteers as Defensive Coordinator for Ralston Valley High School.

Ralston Valley 2
(credit: Colorado State Patrol)

"Great teams treat each other like family and what does family do? They support each other, in good time and in bad, you lift them up when they're feeling bad and you celebrate their victories together," said Downing.

On Tuesday, Downing asked his team if they would honor Trooper Jaimie Jursevics with a special decal on their helmets.

Jaimie Jursevics
Jaimie Jursevics (credit: Colorado State Patrol)

"I know our uniform is special, as it is for a lot of my life. And I asked them if they would be willing to wear this to honor my other family with the Colorado State Patrol and Jaimie's family and Jaimie as well," said Downing.

The decals are the CSP logo of a wheel with wings coming off it then a blue slash reading JJ 4801. Trooper Jaimie Jursevics' officer number is 4801.

Downing says the team has been a vital outlet for him during a tough week.

"These kids have a special place in my heart," said Downing. "This kind of stuff, having an outlet to take my mind off of those kinds of things that specifically is a great outlet for me."
He hopes the kids he coaches will see this as a learning lesson too.

Ralston Valley
(credit: Ralston Valley High School)

"A lot of people's interactions with law enforcement tends to be on the negative side," said Downing. "I want to show these guys cops are part of the community and I can have a positive impact in their lives in a positive way out here on the football field and it's an awesome experience for me."

Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he's been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Jeff.

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