12th Annual Denver Public Safety Luncheon Spotlights First Responders

Story and photos by
Lisa Perry

Denver Public Safety Luncheon

at Curtis Hotel Ballroom benefiting Denver Fire Department Foundation, Denver Police Foundation, Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, Denver Sheriff's Orphans Fund, Denver Health Foundation and Denver DA Justice Programs Foundation at 11:30 a.m.

When you hold an event that includes the agencies, nonprofits and elected officials that support first responders, there’s positive energy everywhere. There’s also a savvy “I get you” vibe. And with all the uniformed heroes in attendance, there’s a roomful of respected blue.

Reps from Denver Fire Department

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, more than 300 gathered in The Curtis Hotel ballroom for the 12th annual Denver Public Safety Luncheon. Event organizers Josh Hanfling, of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, and Laura Douglas, executive director of Denver Fire Department Foundation, focused on two goals: to inform the community about the state of public safety in Denver and to raise funds for associated area nonprofits. Net proceeds are divided evenly among Denver Fire Department Foundation, Denver Police Foundation, Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, Denver Sheriff’s Orphans Fund, Denver Health Foundation and Denver DA Justice Programs Foundation.

(l to r): Laura Douglas, event organizer and executive director of Denver Fire Department Foundation; recipient of Denver Public Safety Citizen’s Award Walter Isenberg, of Sage Hospitality; Josh Hanfling, event organizer, of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs; and former Denver City Council member and emcee Albus Brooks

Albus Brooks served as emcee, and two award honorees had the opportunity to speak to the crowd: Retired Denver Sheriff Gary Wilson, (27 years with the City and County of Denver, now living and working out of state), recipient of the Jerry Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award; and Walter Isenberg, of Sage Hospitality Group, recipient of the David J. Cole Denver Public Safety Citizen’s Award. Speakers were tasked with presenting something new, something people may not know about Denver’s public safety, in a brief presentation. They were: Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann, Executive Director of the Office of Public Safety Armando Saldate, Denver Health Chief Paramedic Gary Bryskiewicz, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas, Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins, Denver Deputy Fire Chief Kathleen Vredenburgh, Denver 911 Director Andrew Dameron.

To learn more about this annual event, please go to: https://www.denverfirefoundation.org/events.

: Denver Fire Department Foundation board president Amanda Steffan (left), with executive director Laura Douglas

: John Simonet (left) and Maj. Rick Guerrero, of Denver Sheriff Department…Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center bears John’s name.

: Kathy Johnson and Chris Ferguson, of Denver Fire Dept.

: Elaine and Tom Kennedy

: Honor Guard practice before the luncheon

: Dan Scherer (left), with Kris and Columbine Health Plan founder-president David McReynolds

: Jerome Nichols (left) and Burke Benton at Honor Guard practice

: Representatives of Denver Sheriff Department

: Christie Isenberg, Denver Police Foundation board member, and Dan Scherer

: Sharon and Gary Wilson…Gary is this year’s recipient of the Jerry Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award.

: Gary Wilson greets an old friend.

: Denver Fire Department reps

: Carlos Aragon (left) and Brent Fahrberger

: (l to r): Josh Hanfling, Sheriff of Denver Elias Diggins and Erone Adams

: (l to r): Laura Douglas, event organizer and executive director of Denver Fire Department Foundation; recipient of Denver Public Safety Citizen’s Award Walter Isenberg, of Sage Hospitality; Josh Hanfling, event organizer, of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs; and former Denver City Council member and emcee Albus Brooks

: (l to r): WJ Haskins, Glendale Chief of Police; Jeff Allen, Glendale Chamber of Commerce COO; Glendale Police Lt. Roy Martin and Don Vigil, Glendale Police patrol division commander

: Tom Campbell (left) and Nick Eggemeyer

: Tables are set in The Curtis Hotel ballroom.

: Representatives from Colorado Convention Center (l to r): Cory Jones, Mark Brisse, Fabian Borjas

: Debbie Gibbs (left) and Selena Dunham

: Sarah Tyson (left) and Donna Upson

: Reps from Denver Paramedics and Denver Fire Department

: Christie and Walter Isenberg

: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock (right) greets former Denver Police chief Ari Zavaras.

: (l to r): John Simonet, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and former Denver Police chief Ari Zavaras

: Denver District Attorney Beth McCann and Armando Saldate III, Executive Director, Denver Department of Safety

: (l to r): Elias Diggins, Sheriff of Denver; Kathleen Vredenburgh, Deputy Chief, Denver Fire Department; Andrew Dameron, Denver Director of Emergency Communications

: (l to r): Jackie Devine, Sara Randall, Megan Pletcher

: Watching a commemorative video

: Columbine Health Plan founder-president David McReynolds introduces award recipient Gary Wilson.

: Former Denver Sheriff Gary Wilson, recipient of this year’s Jerry Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award

: Emcee Albus Brooks

: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock

: An audience member listens intently.

: Walter Isenberg, of Sage Hospitality, accepts the David J Cole Denver Public Safety Citizen’s Award, as Denver Mayor Michael Hancock looks on.

: Denver District Attorney Beth McCann

: Armando Saldate III, Executive Director, Denver Public Safety

: Gary Bryskiewicz, Chief Paramedic, Denver Health Paramedic Division

: Newly sworn-in Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas joked that he could just show his ceremony photo to fulfill the “new information” portion of his talk.