Fundraisers underway for Wichita police officer, a K-9 handler who is battling cancer

A longtime Wichita police K-9 officer whose former partner may be the most well-known K-9 in the department’s history has been diagnosed with cancer.

Fundraising efforts are taking place to help officer Daniel Gumm, an 18-year department veteran, husband and father of three children. Gumm was the handler of Rooster, a Belgian Malinois fatally shot during a 2017 call. A dog park was later named after Rooster, the only K-9 in the department’s 151-year history to be killed in the line of duty.

Gumm, U.S. Army veteran, has spent the last 12 years of his career as a K-9 handler, trainer and K-9 judge. Gumm has been diagnosed with metastatic esophageal cancer that has spread to his liver, the Honore Adversis Foundation said Friday.

The foundation raises money for injured or sick officers in Sedgwick County. The organizations announced different ways people can help them raise funds to help Gumm fight cancer.

Money from T-shirts designed by his oldest daughter and available at cuffsvsaxes.com will go to medical expenses. There’s also a feed with silent and live auction planned from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, 18218 US-54 in Goddard, and a 5K and 1-mile fun run planned for Sept. 3 at a location yet to be determined.

Anyone who wants to donate money to help with medical expenses can also do so at honorduringadversity.org.

Rooster and Bane

Gumm and Rooster had been together nearly five years when they responded to a south Wichita mobile home park on March 18, 2017. A woman called 911, saying a man had pointed a gun at her, threatened to kill her and held her hostage, The Eagle previously reported.

Other officers also responded to the call.

The woman came out and said Kevin Perry was armed. The 25-year-old later went outside with his hands up before dropping his hands and turning to go back inside.

Gumm released Rooster.

An officer noticed a gun in the man’s back waistband and shouted the warning to other officers.

“By then, Rooster had grabbed Perry’s leg, preventing him from retreating further,” The Eagle story says. “Perry turned back toward the officers and reached for his gun, prompting police to fire at him at about the same time Perry is thought to have discharged his weapon, police have said.”

The bullet Perry fired hit Rooster. The K-9 died almost immediately.

Perry was fatally shot by police.

Hundreds of people, including officers and K-9s from around the state, attended a tearful funeral for Rooster at Century II. Cards, flowers and other expressions of gratitude flowed in from all over, including from overseas.

Police chaplain Dave Henion told the people in attendance that “God has blessed us with dogs … and especially Rooster.”

“What would have happened if Rooster wasn’t there that night?” Henion asked. “I am grateful that Rooster was able to go in there and take the hit for our guys. He should be honored.”

Gumm said he could take solace in knowing that Rooster died doing what he loved to do. He said working with a K-9 is like having a 2-year-old as a partner, a “very stinky, hyper, panting, slobbering, 80-pound 2-year-old with really bad gas,” Gumm said, the crowd laughing.

“Even with all that, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said.

After Rooster’s death, Gumm took on a new partner, a Belgian Malinois named Bane. The two were awarded in 2020 for arresting a man who had robbed his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint. Gumm spotted the man walking down the sidewalk. He told the man to stop, but the man instead walked away. Gumm then got Bane and told the man again to stop or he would be bitten.

The man laid down and was taken into custody. Several thousand dollars in cash were found on him. A rifle was also found inside his vehicle.