Arvada Police Foundation outlines Honor Garden memorial, schedules groundbreaking

The Arvada Police Foundation on April 15 presented plans for an Honor Garden memorial to honor four Arvada officers who died in the line of duty, and scheduled a public groundbreaking next week.

Foundation president Charlie Leonor described a conceptual plan for the west end of Memorial Park across from City Hall that he said will include a “Path of Heroes” for the four fallen officers, a central “Circle of Honor” with seating and statues representing the past, present and future of Arvada police service, and individual pillars with bronze plaques recounting each officer’s service. Leonor said the foundation hopes to dedicate the garden next year during Police Week and will kick off fundraising with a groundbreaking at 11:30 a.m. on April 24.

Former Arvada police chief Ron Sloan and other retired commanders described the memorial’s role for department healing and public remembrance. Sloan said a permanently accessible memorial gives officers, families and residents “a place of remembrance to never forget, a place to give us an opportunity to heal.” Retired Sergeant Frank Oshman, representing department retirees, said current plaques are kept inside the police department and that a visible memorial “is someplace where not only police officers, city employees, but the members of the community can come, pay their respects.”

Terry Bacoff, the aunt of Officer Dylan Bacoff, thanked the council and the foundation for advancing the project and urged community attendance at the fundraising kickoff and subsequent events. Chief Ed Brady introduced the foundation presenters and thanked them for organizing the project.

The foundation’s presentation included conceptual drawings and a slide showing the memorial placement in the park. Leonor said the memorial will feature four primary elements: the Path of Heroes (north end) with four pillars and bronze plaques; the Circle of Honor with four benches and a statue titled “Generations of Service”; and landscaping and accessibility improvements on the west side of Memorial Park. Leonor asked the public to attend the April 24 groundbreaking and to support the fundraising effort.

No formal council action was recorded on the item during the meeting; presenters asked for community attendance and support as they begin fundraising and design. Council members thanked the presenters and members of the department retirees who attended.

A groundbreaking is scheduled for April 24 at 11:30 a.m. at the west end of Memorial Park; the foundation said it aims to dedicate the finished Honor Garden during Police Week next year.