Slain Adams Co. Deputy: Plans For Funeral For Heath Gumm

BRIGHTON, CO -- BREAKING: Slain Adams Co. Deputy: Heath Gumm Funeral [WATCH]

Family and friends gathered in Lafayette to honor slain Adams Co. Deputy Heath Gumm, 31, killed in the line of duty Jan. 24

The Adams County Sheriff's office released information Monday for the funeral of Deputy Heath Gumm, 31, who was shot and killed on Jan. 24 when responding to a call in Thornton.

Gumm's funeral will take place Friday, Feb. 2, at 11:00 a.m. at:

Flatirons Community Church
355 W. South Boulder Rd,
Lafayette, CO 80026

Gumm's family asked the sheriff's office to post a statement on the county website:

Our family would like to express our sincere gratitude for the incredible support and empathy expressed during this difficult time. We have truly been amazed by the generous nature of the community. Our hearts are warmed by the display of compassion from complete strangers who stood, and continue stand alongside our family. As we passed behind the tinted windows of a brightly lit motorcade, your heartfelt wishes for our husband, son and brother has given his life a beautiful purpose.

We have no words that appropriately say thank you for the donations sent and offers to help to our extended law enforcement family as they continue to watch over our family and community.

We would also like to express our gratitude for all law enforcement officers who served by Heath’s side, and all those who now work to honor his life and service. This family support means more to us than we will ever be able to effectively describe. Please stay safe as you continue to watch over those you made a commitment to serve. You are all deeply appreciated. Finally, we respectfully ask for your continued assistance respecting our privacy as we move through this time of healing and much needed rest.

Gumm, 32, was a 2004 graduate Denver's Catholic Mullen High School. An English teacher remembered Gumm's reputation as reliable in a TV interview.

“He was well thought of as a young man, and he was well thought of as a man,” teacher Sean Keefe said, “He was someone people gravitated towards, and he was someone who people could count on.” Keefe added that the school community was "in shock" at Gumm's death.

Gumm developed his love of hockey in high school and played with the Fighting Nemos Hockey Club.

"Heath was not just a teammate, he was a friend, he was family, he was our brother," the club posted on their Facebook Page. "Deputy Gumm played hockey like he lived his life, full of fun, passion, toughness, and with a little bit of goofiness mixed in." The club announced they would host a game dedicated to Gumm at a future date.

Gumm joined the Adams Co. Sheriff's Dept. in 2012. He was affectionately called "Gummball" by his colleagues. The nickname came from a mashup of Gumm's name with his patrol partner, Deputy Dustin Ball. The two went through training together in 2013, the Sheriff's Facebook page said.

Through patrol training, [Gumm and Ball] formed a bond, learning to lean on each other through challenging circumstances. By design, deputies are tried, tested, and pushed to their limits during training to prepare them to adapt to different situations and scenarios.
“It was a pleasure to experience this with one of the greatest men I’ve ever known,” said Deputy Ball. These two dedicated deputies forged a bond that will stand the test of time, and together they were unstoppable. “He knew that I had his back, and that he had mine,” said Deputy Ball.
As this partnership was forged, Deputy Gumm and Deputy Ball’s supervisors and other deputies decided a name change was in order. Since these two were seemingly connected at the hip, it was a nickname that was easy to land on. This is the genesis of the name, “Gummball.”

Gumm was married to Natasha, a nurse. They had no children, the sheriff's office said. He was also survived by his parents. According to the Denver Post, Gumm grew up in a "family of first responders, most of them firefighters." His father, James Gumm, retired from West Metro Fire Protection District, the Post reported.

That Adams Co. Sheriff's office posted information for anyone who wanted to donate to Gumm's family:

* Donations for the Gumm family can be made through the Adams County Sheriff’s Foundation
* In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation

DONATIONS AND CARDS FOR GUMM FAMILY
Cards for Deputy Gumm's family can be delivered to the Substation 4201 E. 72nd Ave. Commerce City, CO 80022, 7 days a week from 7AM-7PM or Headquarters 332 N. 19th Ave. Brighton, CO 80601, 5 days a week from 8AM-5PM.

More Patch coverage:

Alleged Deputy-Shooter Appears in Adams Co. Courtroom - Dreion Martise Dearing, 22, had a first hearing in Adams Co. Court. He is accused of the shooting death of Adams Co. Deputy Heath Gumm, 31.

Fallen Adams Co. Deputy: Hickenlooper Orders Flags Lowered

Image via Adams Co. Sheriff Dept.