Golden, law enforcement communities honor Officer Evan Dunn in funeral procession

Golden Police Officer Evan Dunn answered hundreds of calls throughout his life.

Some were small or routine, like code violations and foot patrols. Others were urgent or serious.

But, among the most important calls he ever answered were:

• The call to love, honor and serve his family as a husband, son and brother;
• The call to serve his country; and
• The call to serve the Golden community, first as a code enforcement officer and then as a police officer.

“The men and women of the Golden Police Department are dedicated to serving this community,” Police Chief Joe Harvey said Nov. 12. “We answer a higher call.”

Dunn, who was killed Nov. 6 while responding to a traffic accident along Highway 58, was remembered by his family, friends and colleagues during a Nov. 13 memorial service at Mission Hills Church.

While the memorial itself wasn’t open to the public, dozens of Goldenites and others from across the Denver area lined the sidewalks near the church to pay their respects during the funeral procession.

In total, more than 500 first responders from 76 agencies across the state participated in the procession, including military personnel and a Black Hawk helicopter flyover.

Dunn, 33, was a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and was actively serving in the Army National Guard at the time of his death, according to the Golden Police Department

His loved ones have described Dunn as “a man of faith, loyal, steady, quiet and observant.” He also loved the outdoors, and enjoyed traveling and camping with his wife and their dog.

Dunn first joined Golden as a code enforcement officer, serving for a year until he entered the police academy. He graduated in July and was partnered with Officer Bethany Grusing, his field training officer, while responding to the Nov. 6 traffic accident.

Grusing also sustained major injuries during the incident, but has since been released from the hospital, city officials confirmed.

Golden City Councilors offered Grusing their support and wished her a speedy recovery, saying they were “devastated” by what happened Nov. 6.

“Golden is incredibly grateful for (Grusing)’s resilience and bravery,” Mayor Pro Tem Rob Reed said at the Nov. 12 City Council meeting. “ … The City of Golden is honored that Bethany is a part of our community.”

Harvey and Reed also thanked all the individuals, businesses and organizations that have “given a special outpouring of support” at this difficult time. Reed remarked how, amid its heartbreak, Golden was “full of small-town compassion, community and togetherness.”

Harvey described how, along with dozens of in-person condolences and well-wishes, he’s received more than 350 emails and other messages in the last week from people offering GPD their support. Community members have also been very generous in donating money for Dunn’s family and bringing food and supplies for his colleagues, he said.

“We don’t do it for fame or money; we do it in service,” Harvey said of GPD. “We run into danger when others run away, and we face uncertainty with bravery and courage, which is exactly what Evan and Bethany did Wednesday night.”

Harvey said his message to the community was: “We feel your love and support. We are unwavering, and we are here to protect you.”

“This loss has rippled through our city staff, our community and our council,” Reed said. “Tonight, we stand together in loss and remembrance. Officer Dunn’s calm, quiet courage and dedication to the City of Golden and its people will never be forgotten.”

Reed and his colleagues thanked Dunn and his family for their sacrifice, with Reed adding that Golden will be doing more to honor Dunn’s memory in the coming weeks.

‘One team, one family’

On Nov. 13, hundreds of first responders from across Colorado joined Golden-area law enforcement officers, firefighters and ambulance personnel for Dunn’s funeral procession to the Littleton-area Mission Hills Church.

Additionally, several Goldenites and other community members lined nearby sidewalks, carrying American, military and police flags to honor Dunn.

Some like Donny O’Connor wanted to support their comrade-in-arms.

O’Connor also flew Black Hawk helicopters for the Army National Guard, and had several mutual friends with Dunn. He said he wanted to honor a fellow veteran and support Dunn’s family.

Joe Garcia and his fellow Colorado Patriot Guard Riders likewise thanked Dunn for his military and police service, and shared their condolences for his family, friends and colleagues.

Golden’s Butch Hernandez and his wife, Cathy Porteous, brought their American flags and stood nearby while the procession made its way to Mission Hills Church.

They said they’d never done anything like this before.

However, Porteous described how she recently lost her sister, saying, “It’s the people that show up to support … that’s going to get the family through it. When it hits close to home you feel it.”

Hernandez, Porteous and Candance Putnam described how “senseless” the loss was for Golden and the greater law enforcement community, describing how talented and well-respected Dunn was by all accounts.

“It breaks my heart that the family has to go through this,” Putnam said.

Putnam, who used to live in Golden years ago, said her son is a police officer in the Denver area. While it’s heartbreaking every time the community loses a first responder, especially in the line of duty, she said she’s always proud to see how far-reaching and all-encompassing their support for one another is with funeral processions like Dunn’s.

As the procession made its way down County Line Road and turned into the Mission Hills Church parking area, dozens of patrol vehicles and hundreds of officers lined either side of the road, culminating in two firetrucks with a huge American flag tied between their extended ladders.

Chris Davell and other Goldenites who watched the procession said it was a very powerful display of fraternity and community support.

Davell added how heartwarming it was to see so many first responders and community members — not just from Golden but from across Colorado — honor Dunn and his loved ones.

“It’s very emotional,” he said.

Click through additional photos from the Nov. 13 funeral procession: