COLORADO SPRINGS – Colorado Springs Police shared a touching moment on its Facebook page Friday afternoon.
Police said a 10-year-old boy named Cooper stopped by the department Friday to make a donation in honor of Officer Cem Duzel.
Police said Cooper picks a different cause to fundraise for on his birthday. This year, Officer Duzel was the recipient. Cooper also met one of Officer Duzel’s close friends on the force, Detective Matt Waters.
CSPD’s Facebook post read, in part, “We are thankful for Cooper’s thoughtfulness and very honored to meet him in person. Our staff is impressed by this little boy’s selfless act of giving.”
Cem and his family wish to thank Colorado Springs Police Department employees and our community for the unbelievable number of birthday cards and gifts sent to Cem – and they continue to come in every day! https://t.co/kn4hlZzYiI pic.twitter.com/UEF73fn2f0
— Springs Police (@CSPDPIO) September 28, 2018
Also on Friday, the department thanked the community for sending cards to wish Officer Duzel a happy birthday and a speedy recovery. Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, Police Chief Pete Carey, Fire Chief Ted Collas all visited Cem earlier this week.
Officer Duzel was injured in the line of duty when he was shot in the head on Aug. 2 in Colorado Springs while responding to a shots fired call.
Since then, Duzel has shown steady improvement in his condition, being released from the hospital on Aug. 28 and is now continuing his recovery at a Denver-area rehabilitation center.
