Denver council honors retiring deputies and longtime civic leader Michael Henry

Denver City Council on Monday read and adopted a series of proclamations honoring public-safety leaders and a longtime civic advocate.

Councilmember Lewis read Proclamation 25-20-16 honoring Chief Sonia Gillespie for more than three decades with the Denver Sheriff Department, citing leadership in wellness, training and equity work; the council adopted the proclamation by roll call. Chief Gillespie spoke briefly, thanking the council and her family.

Council Pro Tem Romero Campbell led a proclamation recognizing Deputy Sheriff Major Derek Wynne for 26 years of service; the council adopted Proclamation 25-20-14. Major Wynne and family accepted the honor and thanked the council and Sheriff Elias Diggins.

Later in the meeting, Councilmember Hines read Proclamation 25-20-15 honoring Michael Henry for his leadership of the Denver Board of Ethics, co-founding of Denver Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation and long neighborhood advocacy. The council adopted the proclamation and invited Lori Weiser (who said she is stepping into Michael Henry’s role), Jane Feldman (current chair of the Denver Board of Ethics) and family members to offer remarks. "He was a mentor to me," Lori Weiser said, and family members thanked the council for the recognition.

What happens next: Proclamations will be transmitted to honorees and the clerk and recorder will affix the city seal to the documents, per the proclamations' text.