Customers lined up outside of Parker's Coffee Cabin on March 28 to pitch in to help the family of a fallen Boulder police officer.

Together, the customers and the Coffee Cabin raised more than $30,000 for the family of Officer Eric Talley, according to owner Wes Crespi. Crespi did so by gathering the day's tips and his salary for the donation.

“It's the way I was raised,” Crespi said. “It's very important to help your community.”

From about 8 a.m. until the shop closed at 2:30 p.m., there was a line outside, Crespi said. By the end of the day, he'd run out of coffee to sell, but folks kept coming by to donate. 

“My customers are a huge part of this,” he said. “It's not me, it's Parker.”

Talley was killed in the line of duty March 22 while responding to an active shooter situation at a grocery store in Boulder. Nine others were killed in the shooting. Talley is survived by his wife and seven children.

“That police officer left behind seven children,” Crespi said. “And he still ran toward the danger.”

Crespi, who comes from a military and police family, said he decided to do the fundraiser immediately upon hearing about the officer's death. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Crespi has lived in Castle Rock for about 19 years. The Coffee Cabin, located at 6418 E Ponderosa Drive in Parker, has been open for 15 years.

“I do it because … when I was a kid, everybody in my neighborhood helped my mom raise six kids by herself,” he said.

On the day of the fundraiser, Crespi, 60, had several friends and community members helping him and his wife run the shop, including Mayor Jeff Toborg and Town Councilmember Todd Hendreks, he said.

Crespi has hosted other fundraisers for law enforcement in the past along with posting signs on his property indicating support of the agencies.

“I want them to drive down and know that people really do care,” he said.

Those interested in donating to Talley and the other victims' families can do so through The Colorado Healing Fund, The Colorado State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, The Boulder County Injured and Fallen Officers Fund or the Community Foundation Boulder County.

“The Parker community is just amazing,” he said. “When they hear people are in need, they want to help.”