Denver cops honored for exemplary service

The Denver Police Department honored officers “who have gone above and beyond the call of duty” in a ceremony this afternoon.

The quarterly awards at the Denver Police Academy, 2155 N. Akron Way, began at 4 p.m. and were open to the public, the department said in a news release.

The recipients included:

Sgt. John Pinder and Detective Jesse Avendano, who received the medal of honor. The two were on duty in plain clothes eating lunch on Nov. 14 at the Ha Noi restaurant when a masked gunman entered and pointed a shotgun at several patrons. They shot the man.

Officer Jeffrey Heinis, who received the medal of valor. On April 11, Heinis chased and caught a masked man who had beaten up a clerk at an Ace Cash Express store.

Cpl. Dan Andrews, who received the distinguished service cross. On Feb. 3, Andrews subdued an intoxicated man who was trying to get his gun.

Officers Daniel Walton and Mickey Horton, who received the purple heart.On Sept. 2, Walton was injured when his cruiser was hit by a car as he was responding to a domestic-violence call.

On Nov. 16, Horton seriously injured his hand trying to subdue a suspect in a gang investigation.

Twelve officers received the life-saving award.Cpl. Darin Lindsey, Cpl. Doug Moran, Officer Robert Medina and Officer Greg Zimmerman saved a suicidal woman hanging from a third-story balcony on Feb. 28.

Officer Kyllion Chafin, Officer Gary Estrada, Detective Ken Klaus and Detective Jesse Avendano worked a case April 10 with a suicidal man who held a gun in his mouth until he calmed down.

Officers George Gann, Christopher Avitia, Tab Davis and Mickey Horton discovered a fire burning in a vacant church on Sept. 29 and evacuated a man who was sleeping inside.