New Badge Honors Fallen Officer Celena Hollis and 160th Anniversary
Officer Celena Hollis, badge number 05162, was in uniform and working off-duty at the City Park Jazz Festival on June 24, 2012, when she was shot at 8:08 p.m., while responding to break up a gang fight by the pavilion next to City Park Lake. She died a short time later at Denver Health Medical Center.
Officer Hollis was 32 years old, and survived by her daughter, Amyre, who was 12 years old at the time of her mother’s death, as well as by other family members. She was buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.
The seven-year veteran of the Denver Police Department was assigned to District 2.
Officer Hollis was the president of the Black Police Officers organization and had mentored high school girls for the Especially Me organization. Priorto coming to Denver, she had worked for the Detroit, Michigan Police Department.
She was the second female and the second African-American Denver Police officer to die in the line of duty.
A 21-year-old gang member was arrested at the scene, convicted at trial and sentenced to prison for her murder.
On February 1, 2019, the Denver Police Museum and the Denver Police Department unveiled a commemorative badge recognizing the 160th Anniversary of the Denver Police Department. The unveiling of the badge will mark the beginning of a series of special events planned to mark the occasion.
The commemorative badge was designed by Denver Police Sgt Christopher Hoag.
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen presented the first commemorative badge on February 1, 2019 to the family of fallen officer Celina Hollis, the last Denver Officer to be killed in the line of duty. The presentation was held at 10:00am in the Office of the Chief located at 1331 Cherokee Street. Chief Pazen has authorized Denver officers to wear the badge throughout 2019. Officers will be able to purchase the badges at their own expense.