Denver Police Mourn Loss Of Former Officer In Plane Crash

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP/CBS4) — Denver police are mourning the loss of a former officer and his wife.

Authorities say the victims in a fiery plane crash this week near the northern Arizona town of Paulden were two couples.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Department says the medical examiner tentatively identified the dead in Friday's crash as James Parrish, 57, and his wife Lisa of Terrell, 54, of Texas; and Mikeapa Hughes, 65, and his wife Joy, 63. who have homes in Paulden and Aurora, Colo.

Mikeapa Hughes worked with the Denver Police Department in northeast Denver as a training officer. He retired and then taught firearms training in Arizona. Last year the Hughes' made a generous donation to the Denver Police Orphan's Fund. Colleagues say they will be dearly missed.

"It's just hard when you have to talk about someone in past tense, especially when they are such good friends. We did so many things together over the years, experienced so many different treasured memories," Virginia Lopez with Denver police said. "I think the hardest thing is knowing you're not going to have any more."

Sheriff's spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn said Saturday that relatives have been notified but positive identifications will probably take weeks using DNA and dental records.

The department says that the twin-engine Cessna 340, which was owned by James Parrish, was flying from Bullhead City, Ariz., when it went down west of Paulden. No one survived.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause.

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