The Citizens Appreciate Police (CAP) nonprofit organization awarded seven Denver Police Department officers for their acts of kindness and support in the community on Wednesday.

The CAP awards, formed in 1978 by Denver Mayor Bill McNichols and District Attorney Dale Tooley, are used promote awareness within the community of the dedication of Denver officers, providing officers with framed certificates and pins that can be worn on their uniforms.

The CAP board, made up of 13 local volunteers, looks at the nominations reported by police supervisors and decides on the recipients every year.

The seven officers awarded with the certificates and pins provided “extraordinary kindness and compassion to those in our community,” according to a DPD press release.

For example, Denver Police Technician Michael Borquez was awarded for his acts of kindness toward a student at a Denver public school.

Borquez noticed the student was in distress while on a school visit in 2023. Borquez talked to the student and eventually informed the school’s administration about his issues.

Borquez then ran into the student again at a community pool during the summer. The student noted that he had never been to the Federal Heights waterpark, Water World. So, the technician talked to his mother and planned a trip to the theme park with the student and his own children. Though the trip was rained out, the group still hung out and had lunch.

The technician then saw the student again while working the school on Thanksgiving. After a discussion, he found out the boy couldn’t travel to the school’s state championship football game to play because he couldn’t afford the $300 expense.

After talking with the boy’s mother, Borquez covered the fees.

Borquez also contacted Denver City Councilmember Kendra Black to partner with providing clothes and gifts for the boy and his mother during Christmas that year.

“Tech. Borquez truly embodies the DPD spirit and makes a positive impact on those he encounters,” according to the release.

The other six officers were awarded for two separate incidents involving children that had not been picked up for school. The officers helped calm the students and find their parents. In one of the situations, the officers even took a children and their mother to dinner after learning that they lived in a shelter.

“Congratulations to each of these award recipients for demonstrating what it means to be a Denver Police officer,” Denver Chief of Police Ron Thomas said in the release. “I thank the CAP Board for recognizing that sometimes it is the small things that make a big impact in the lives of those we serve. Connecting with our residents in a positive manner truly makes a difference in our city, and I thank these CAP award winners and all our officers for doing just that.”

The seven officers awarded include:

• Tech. Michael Borquez
• Ofc. Johnna Anthony
• Ofc. Jonathan Green
• Ofc. Rodolfo Gonzalez
• Ofc. Harrison Sanchez-Patriquin
• Cpl. Sarah Krcal
• Ofc. Nora Cardoza