Former Denver Police Department Officer and disability rights advocate Dale Coski was honored at the department’s fallen officers memorial Thursday.

Coski was struck by a vehicle while helping a stranded motorist in 1983. She lost her left leg above the knee and was paralyzed in most of her body from the incident. Despite her injuries, she remained a member of Denver’s disability community for decades, helping put forth legislation in 1989 that gave handicapped people parking privileges in specially marked areas, until she died in 2024 due to complications from her injuries.

“I vividly remember the day she was injured … I remember a lot of us thinking, ‘that officer is never going to survive,'” said Councilmember Kevin Flynn. “Then I became her councilman 10 years ago, and she never let me forget her. I will always remember Dale and her contributions to the city, the state and the country.”

Coski was honored along with former DPD Ofc. Andrew Duarte, who was working for the West York Borough Police Department in Pennsylvania in February when he was shot and killed while responding to an active shooter at a hospital.

“There is not a thing you can do in this city, whether it is going to a festival downtown, whether it is going to a peaceful protest, whether it is joining a Nuggets or an Avalanche game without being safe because someone has the radical act of courage and selflessness to put on a badge and a uniform every day,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.

Johnston, in addition to DPD Chief Ron Thomas, Executive Director of Safety Armando Saldate as well as Councilmembers Chris Hinds and Jamie Torres all made speeches recognizing the officer’s commitments both to the department and beyond.

The ceremony took place in the courtyard in front of the department’s office downtown with more than 100 uniformed officers in attendance, some of whom were on horseback. At the conclusion of the event, officers conducted a 21-gun salute as doves flew and Taps was played.

In addition to the memorial, Gov. Jared Polis ordered flags to be flown at half staff on Thursday to honor Colorado officers who had been killed in the line of duty for Peace Officer Memorial Day.

The event was the second ceremony for fallen Denver-based police to happen this week, following the Denver Sheriff’s Department memorial for fallen deputies on Tuesday.

The deputies honored at Tuesday’s memorial included Edward Baird, who died in March 1906, John Osborne, who died in August 1974, Edward Martinez, who died in November 1980, Daniel Stillwell, who died in September 1987, Norman Silva II, who died in February 1993 as well as James Herrera and Daniel Trujillo, who both died in May 2021, according to a news release from the Denver Sheriff Department.

“Each year, as we gather for this solemn ceremony, our hearts are filled with profound reflection and unwavering gratitude. We remember the brave deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice, their courage forever etched in our memories,” said Sheriff Elias Diggins in a news release. “To the families of the fallen heroes, we offer our deepest respect and enduring support.”