DENVER — After three decades answering 911 calls for the Denver Police Department, April Overman found a new way to serve: Helping middle schoolers fall in love with science and meet the people behind the badge.

Overman, a retired Denver police dispatcher, now coordinates youth programs for the Denver Police Museum . Since 2019, she has volunteered hundreds of hours building hands-on lessons. The museum’s most recent program was during forensic science week. Students rotated through stations to dust for fingerprints, analyze fibers and ink, and conduct basic blood-typing as they work to solve a mock “diamond theft.”

“We just wanted to bring the kids in and have them meet the professionals,” Overman said. “Maybe this will help change their ideas and attitudes about the police. We all

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