{"id":30342,"date":"2023-12-01T22:59:47","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T05:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/residents-leaders-express-grief-over-loss-of-cortez-police-sgt-michael-moran\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T01:17:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:17:43","slug":"residents-leaders-express-grief-over-loss-of-cortez-police-sgt-michael-moran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/residents-leaders-express-grief-over-loss-of-cortez-police-sgt-michael-moran\/","title":{"rendered":"Residents, leaders express grief over loss of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"About
About 300 people took part in a candlelight vigil for Cortez Police Department officer Sgt. Michael Moran Thursday. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Two days after Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran was killed Wednesday in the line of duty, residents and leaders from Montezuma County, Colorado and the nation have expressed their grief about Moran and their support for his family.<\/p>\n

The Cortez Police Department issued a statement on Wednesday, saying that he will be remembered \u201cby his fellow officers for his dedication and sense of humor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thursday night, nearly 300 people gathered to pay their respects to Moran during a candlelight vigil at the police department.<\/p>\n

\"Sgt.
Sgt. Moran was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday. (Cortez Police Department)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"About
About 300 people took part in a candlelight vigil for Cortez Police Department officer Sgt. Michael Moran Thursday in front of the CPD. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"About
About 300 people took part in a candlelight vigil for Cortez Police Department officer Sgt. Michael Moran Thursday. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Moran was fatally shot Wednesday as he made a traffic stop on South Broadway. The gunman was killed minutes later in a shootout south of town.<\/p>\n

Police officer Kurtiss Baumgartner tearfully spoke during the vigil about how Moran would flash a goofy smile and a joke in stressful situations, \u201cimmediately making everything OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was always there for you,\u201d Baumgartner said. \u201cHe was so passionate about the things he believed in. The world lost a true hero.\u201d<\/p>\n

City Councilor Matt Keefauver, a former principal at Southwest Open School, talked about how Moran visited to SWOS with his dog Otto to build a relationship with students.<\/p>\n

Keefauver said it was all the students could talk about for the next few weeks, and that they had been thrilled to meet Moran and K-9 officer Otto.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael was a father to two girls, he was a friend \u2026 and we\u2019re here to remember him,\u201d Keefauver said. \u201cMichael was truly a special individual who gave everything for his community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another attendee at the candlelight vigil said that Moran embodied what it meant to be a true police officer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to miss him, I\u2019m always going to miss him,\u201d he said. \u201cHe loved coming to work, and he was amazing. He was a good cop. He was the true definition of a police officer.\u201d<\/p>\n

KaLlisha Henneberger expressed her sadness over the loss of Moran, saying that he had been a friend to her when she had no one.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was very good to me, me being who I am with a record,\u201d Henneberger commented on Facebook. \u201cHe sat next to me in the hospital numerous times, never judging me, never reporting me, just setting his job aside and being a friend when I had nobody else in the world by my side. I\u2019m very upset and mourning the loss of a good friend and somebody who would be by my side if I needed him. My condolences and prayers go our to his family and fellow officers. You will be truly missed Sgt. Moran. Rest in peace, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cortez City Council released a statement speaking of the community\u2019s loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cortez City Council is deeply saddened about the death of Police Sgt. Michael Moran,\u201d the statement said. \u201cWhile in service to our city, Sgt. Moran made the ultimate sacrifice when his life was taken from him. This is a tragic loss to our entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn behalf of the residents of the City of Cortez, we wish to thank him and his family for his service to our country and our city. During this extremely difficult time our deepest condolences are with the Moran family, the members of the Cortez police department and all those who loved and respected Sgt. Moran,\u201d they continued. \u201cThe City of Cortez City Council supports our police officers and we are grateful they, even in grief of this loss, continue to serve as the guardians of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

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