Members of the Arvada Police Department came as rescuers. They have remained as family.

In an unprecedented gesture of support, the police department has virtually set aside today to honor the victims of last year's church shootings in Arvada and Colorado Springs, which left four young people dead.

"We've just been really connected to them," said Susan Medina, Arvada police spokeswoman.

The observance begins with the 4 p.m. unveiling of a plaque at Arvada City Hall. Police are invited to a reception and candlelight prayer service that begins at 11 p.m. at Youth With a Mission. As a sign of solidarity, at 10 p.m. some police personnel will begin a 31/2-mile-jog from headquarters to the YWAM campus.

In the early hours of Dec. 9, 2007, police arrived at a chaotic scene. Lead Detective Bob VanderVeen vividly recalls his first impressions.

"This started at a place we weren't overly familiar with. Were these young kids? Older kids? The gunman was still at large; we had no idea what we had," he said.

The scene was one of hellish confusion. Students were running terrified from the YWAM's main building.

Two students - Tiffany Johnson and Phil Crouse - were dead. Two others, Dan Griebenow and Charlie Blanch, were wounded.

The killer, later identified as Matthew Murray, was a disaffected YWAM aspirant who had been kept from completing the program because of his peculiar attitude.

Murray opened fire shortly after being allowed inside the building. By the time police arrived, he had fled.

The distraught students, many hiding in bushes and closets, many still in pajamas, were taken to police headquarters where they were given food and clothing.

"This is going to have a profound impact on our officers forever," VanderVeen said.

He calls Tiffany Johnson a hero for escorting Murray to the door as quickly as she did. If she had let him stay in the living area, VanderVeen believes many more would have been killed.

"It's changed my life, good and bad," he said. "Bad because you always wonder how somebody could be capable of taking innocent life. Good, because you saw how the (families) forgave.

"And for us, it helped our relationship with YWAM. We became a family that day."

Remembering Dec. 9, 2007

Observances will be held today and Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the shootings at Youth With a Mission-Denver and New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

TODAY

* 4 p.m.: Arvada City Hall Council Chambers, 8101 Ralston Road. Police Chief Don Wick will unveil a memorial plaque honoring Tiffany Johnson and Philip Crouse, who died, and two wounded survivors, Dan Griebenow and Charlie Blanch. Families of survivors and victims are expected to attend.

* 10 p.m.: Arvada police personnel begin 31/2-mile run from headquarters to the Youth With a Mission building, 12750 W. 63rd Ave.

* 11 p.m.: Reception at YWAM to honor victims, survivors, their families and law enforcement rescuers.

* Midnight: Candlelight prayer service at YWAM, expected to last one hour.

TUESDAY

* 1 p.m. New Life Church, 11025 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs. Dedication of the Works Memorial, in memory of Stephanie and Rachel Works, who died, and their father, David, who was wounded.