- Lucy Llewellyn Byard
- Posted On
Rumfelt among fallen safety officers remembered at Museum Park ceremony
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The annual Lake County Safety Officers Memorial Ceremony to honor fallen officers who died in 2017 while on duty was held at Museum Park Friday night.
Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Rumfelt, whose end of watch was August 22, 2017, was honored along with fallen heroes Sheriff George Kemp, Deputy William Hoyt and Sgt. Richard Helbush, and firefighters Michael Mattioda and Matthew Black.
Rumfelt, born in 1966, was a deputy for three years and an officer for nine years with Lakeport Police Department.
He suffered a fatal heart attack after a violent confrontation with a domestic violence suspect.
The service was put on by the Lake County Sheriff’s Chaplains: Terry Cara, a retired Army Reserve chaplain; Steve Nesheim, pastor of the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church; and Mike Suski, senior pastor of Lakeport Christian Center.
Sheriff Brian Martin, wearing a band of black over his badge in a show of respect, spoke of Rumfelt, who was his friend.
Martin brought a bit of laughter to the solemn group of around 90 people, when he said, “Rob was a great deputy, officer, husband, father, son, brother, grandpa, cousin, uncle, coach … I’m grateful for the times we worked together and especially grateful for the times that Rob didn’t get too close to me at costume parties. Those who are laughing know what I’m talking about.”
Sheriff Martin is going to Washington, DC in May for National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Week where fallen officers who lost their lives in 2017 will be honored, including Rumfelt.
Also present was Congressman Mike Thompson, who thanked everyone “who took time from your day to be here to take part in this very important ceremony.”
The congressman spoke of how Rumfelt took a leave of absence from the Lakeport Police Department from 2006 to 2009 to serve in Iraq as a police advisor to Iraqi law enforcement agencies.
While there, “he bravely rescued a soldier at great personal risk, giving the soldier the precious time he needed to get to a doctor and that saved his life,” Thompson said.
Each chaplain read off names of fallen officers, whilst the firefighters’ bell rung in their honor. The sound echoed in the trees of Museum Park where wood sculptures of first responders stand. The sculptures by Mark Colp, Wooden Creations, were restored to their original beauty by Colp for the memorial.
The door of Rumfelt’s SUV patrol vehicle was at the memorial with messages written on it from his fellow officers. It will be displayed in the Lake County Museum.
A memorial bronze plaque was also unveiled with Deputy Rumfelt’s name on the memorial monument in Museum Park.
Rumfelt's family attended the memorial and afterward his father Robert Rumfelt said, “It was a beautiful service and we’re very honored by it.”
Chaplain Nesheim spoke these final words, after June Jackson of Praises of Zion Baptist Church in Clearlake sang “Amazing Grace.”
”Tonight we are gathered here to remember those who have given their lives in the line of duty,” Nesheim said. “As we light candles, let us not forget our fallen heroes and let us make a commitment to never forget their names.”
Lucy Llewellyn Byard is a correspondent for Lake County News. She lives in Lucerne.