Community shows support for shot Colorado Springs police officer
As people continue to learn more about Colorado Springs Police Officer Cem Duzel and the events that unfolded early Thursday morning , the support and well-wishes have flooded in.
Duzel was shot by a suspect shortly before 3 a.m. while he responded to a call for shots fired near Platte Ave. and Bonfoy Ave. He was last listed in critical condition after being shot in the head.
The department has already been through a similar situation this year when a CSPD detective was injured during the February shootout with an auto theft suspect that resulted in the death of El Paso County Deputy Micah Flick.
Support poured in then, and Thursday was no different.
Tikyra Angelique wants CSPD to know the community cares — she was in the median across from the Police Operations Center holding a poster for several hours.
“I woke up really early in the morning, made this sign and then just rushed out here,” Angelique said.
She says she just felt compelled to do this for Duzel.
“I wanted the police officer knowing there is so much love,” she said.
And the community is responding.
“There’s been waves, a lot of prayers for them,” she said.
The support of Officer Duzel goes beyond a sign — hundreds of comments were written on social media expressing prayers and thoughts for Duzel, and we also found American flags hung in the neighborhood where he was shot.
Pete Clark, who lives in the neighborhood near Platte and Bonfoy, says it’s a sign of solidarity.
“I just do it to show respect for my community and my country and of course the officers that protect us,” Clark said
Clark actually heard the gunshots early Thursday morning.
“I heard three shots — pop, pop and then pop,” he said.
He says this whole thing has him rattled but he’s putting it aside to focus his prayers on Duzel and his family, as well as the department.
Because the investigation is being handled by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, we haven’t heard much from the police department.
Thursday morning the Colorado Springs Fire Department wrote on Twitter, “We pray for Officer Cem Duzel. We pray for his family. We pray for the CSPD family. And we pray for our community.”
