Volunteer gives rest of his life to victims
Police honor ill Arvada man

By Betsy Lehndorff, Rocky Mountain News
August 18, 2007

Bob Loveless' life is pierced with pain and uncertainty.
The 57-year-old Arvada man has been wasting away from a terminal illness similar to Lou Gehrig's disease, and was told by doctors that he had 18 months to live.

That was two years ago.

To make the best of his remaining time, Loveless has spent more than 2,000 hours as a volunteer, welcoming traumatized crime victims at a private, third- floor lounge at the Denver Police Department's administration building.

"It gets me out of the house every day, and I'm doing something for other people," said Loveless, a former grocery store department manager.

"And I have people around me who are very supportive for what I have," he said.

Denver police wanted to make sure Loveless was properly thanked. On Friday, they arranged a surprise ceremony for him at 1331 Cherokee St.

When Loveless walked -into the first-floor auditorium, escorted by Police Chief Gerald Whitman, he found himself facing his sisters, Landa Goetz and Sherrie Brown, their families and television cameras.

"I'll cherish it the rest of the time I am on this whole earth," Loveless said.

Loveless received the Bill Daniels Neighborhood -Hero Award and a check for $1,000. He is also expected to receive a President's Volunteer Service Gold Medal from Washington, D.C.

"You may have other nominees who have volunteered for many years of their life," investigations division chief Dave Fisher told the audience. "But how many have given the rest of their life?"

Pitching in

The Denver Police Department has always had volunteers, but formalized the program in 2004. Since then, volunteers have saved the city millions through July 31:

392 total volunteers. Tasks include filing, registering sex offenders, investigating cold cases and helping the public.

186,041 hours donated

$3.5 million: the value of that volunteer time, calculated at $18.77 an hour.

• Want to volunteer? Call 720-913-6878Source: Denver Police Sgt. Matt Murray

lehndorffb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2792.

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