CORTEZ — Party might be a misleading word.

Saturday’s fete in Cortez was law enforcement’s way of tipping its hat to the community and its attempt to put a difficult several weeks behind it.

At least 1,200 people attended a feast and ceremony at Parque de Vida, staged by the Cortez Police Department, the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado National Guard unit in Cortez.

With two fugitives tied to the killing of Cortez police officer Dale Claxton still on the loose, a sense of completion is missing.

"This is not a celebration," said Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane. "We just wanted to say to the community that we’re thankful for what you’ve done. It would have been very hard to do the things we did without the community’s support."

The hunt for two Durango men and one Dove Creek man began May 29 after they allegedly shot Claxton and two Montezuma County sheriff’s deputies, Jason Bishop, 28, and Todd Martin, 35. Two of the suspects have eluded officers in Colorado and Utah for the past 51 days.

Bishop, who was shot in the head, and Martin, who was shot in the left arm and right knee – wounds that both required surgery – were at Saturday’s event. Both appeared in good spirits as they talked to numerous well-wishers.

Bishop was back in uniform, while Martin, in regular clothes, used crutches and a wheelchair to get around.

A crew of about 50 people began arriving at 5 a.m. Saturday to prepare the food, catered by Gay and Judy Balfour of Cortez.

The Balfours said they have spent almost two weeks getting ready for the day, but were glad to help.

"The community’s made something positive out of a negative," Gay Balfour said.

Suzanne Johnson, the wife of a Cortez police officer, said the community made an extra effort to help officers in the field who were searching for the fugitives in Cross Canyon and elsewhere early in the hunt.

"They’ve just been really super," she said.

Cheryl Lane, the wife of Chief Lane, said that those in law enforcement don’t always hear the positive messages, and it was nice to get that from the community. She hoped Saturday’s gathering would help in other ways.

"There has to be a point of healing," she said.

Attendees spread out under several tents to avoid the heat and eat food. Loretta Kieffer of Mancos and Clara Candelaria of Cortez were two of the many volunteers dishing out food and support.

"We have to go forward," said Candelaria, representing American Legion auxiliary unit 75. "(The fugitives) are out there and we hope one of these days they get caught."

Kieffer, who runs the nutrition program at the Mancos Senior Center, said she is thankful for the sheriff’s deputies who patrol the Mancos area. She said Martin is one of her neighbors.

"It’s just sad something like this had to happen in our communities."

At 4 p.m., the National Guard began a 30-minute ceremony by presenting the colors as the Civil Air Patrol made a flyover.