ENGLEWOOD, Colo. —The Broncos continued their support of Police Appreciation Week on Wednesday when Matt Paradis, Ron Leary, Casey Kreiter and Joe Jones visited Denver Police Department's District 4 station to express their gratitude.
"Things like that are really important, just to let them know we don't take what they do for granted," Leary said. "They're out there risking their lives every day to protect us, and that's something we want to show them we appreciate them for, even though we don't get to say it all the time. We definitely see what they're doing, and we're grateful for it."
The four players had the chance to tour the station, learn about how the force operates and talk with the men and women who serve the city.
"We toured the station and they showed us some of the cool stuff happening there," Paradis said. "They have an interesting job, and they have some pretty cool stories."
Paradis, who spearheaded the visit with his teammates, has family members who served in both law enforcement and the armed forces and said it was particularly meaningful for him to visit with the officers on Wednesday.
"Any time you have a connection through a family member, it means a lot," Paradis said.
This week's PLAY 60 All-Ability Clinic gave the Broncos a chance to build a bond with local officers — and Wednesday's visit only strengthened that connection.
"We only see them riding around and when things happen," Leary said. "But we learned a lot about how the behind-the-scenes stuff happens."
"It was a great experience. I learned a lot, and I gained even more respect for them."