Article Launched: 06/12/2006 01:00:00 AM MDT a colorado life Denver police officer set wayward youths straight By Virginia Culver Denver Post Staff Writer John Leavitt John Leavitt was a Denver cop who worked primarily with juveniles. So he knew just what to do when his then- teenage daughter, Bonnie, took a neighbor's car for a little joy riding. He brought the girl to visit a local girls detention center, where he was going to umpire a game. Leavitt made it clear that she "might wind up here. I was terrified," recalled Bonnie Lochner, who lives in Mountain Green, Utah. "Omigosh, did I straighten up," she said. "John had a way with young people and was respected by all who worked with him," said Steve Metros, a retired Denver cop who lives in Littleton. Leavitt was 88 when he died May 31 in Colorado Springs. Leavitt volunteered with various organizations to help kids, often teaching sports or umpiring games, said Lochner. He also made sure he knew area principals so they could work together when a teenager got into trouble. When he wasn't doing police work, Leavitt was probably playing in a local jazz band, the Blue Notes, which was led by his brother, David, a trombonist. John Leavitt, a trumpeter, started playing as a preteen, when he was a member of the Highlander Boys, a local youth organization. The Blue Notes played at dance halls, country clubs, fraternal organizations and weddings. Leavitt's trumpet talent was more important to his mother, Mattie Leavitt, than football. When Leavitt played split end at West High School, it was before the elaborate face masks now used. So his mother fashioned a rubber nose and mouth mask to protect his mouth so he wouldn't lose his ability to play the trumpet. Friends dubbed him "Rubber Nose." John Leavitt laughed and said he wore the thing "to protect my beautiful face." Leavitt was on the last West High team that won the city championship, said his son, John Leavitt of Colorado Springs. John C. Leavitt was born in Denver on Nov. 24, 1917, and was reared in southwest Denver's Archer neighborhood. He graduated from West High School in 1936. He married Dawn Hinkle, whom he dated while both were in high school. He served in the Navy and was part of the U.S. occupation force in Japan after World War II. After a 27-year career with the Police Department, Leavitt worked in security for Frontier Airlines. In addition to his son and daughter, he is survived by his brother, Paul Leavitt of Denver, and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, a daughter, Diane Leavitt, and his brother, David Leavitt. Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at vculver@denverpost.com or 303-820-1223. -http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_3926051# (6/23/06)