The body of Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn is carried to Shepherd of Hills Church for funeral services in Porter Ranch on Thursday, November 5, 2009. Front left is his son Neil Gunn and front right is Chris Topolovic. Sgt. Gunn, from the Burbank Police Department, killed himself in Burbank last week. (Raul Roa/Leader)
Burbank Leader
By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Thursday, November 5, 2009 4:46 PM PST
PORTER RANCH — The bereaved family of Burbank Police Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn gathered for his service Thursday at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch.
Friends and family members memorialized the life of the 22-year award-winning department veteran who died last week of a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the chest at the corner of North Sunset Canyon Drive and East Harvard Road.
Some officers served as pallbearers, together flooding the room in a wash of deep blue.
Born Feb. 18, 1959, in Glendale, Gunn married his wife Tina in 1977 and the pair had three children, Lesli, Dawna and Neil.
“To the mighty Burbank Police Department, now is the time for healing. Be united in love, remember why you wanted to become police officers and go protect the wonderful citizens of Burbank,” Tina Gunn wrote in the funeral program.
A special message to a select group of officers, many of whom served an elite detail with her late husband, asked them to be strong and remember, “Aut Pax Aut Bellum” — either peace or war.
Gunn worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad before joining the ranks of the Burbank Police Department as an officer, detective and sergeant.
He was named in a Sept. 14 federal subpoena for the personnel records of 12 officers seeking information related to use-of-force issues and possible civil rights violations.
Affectionately known as “Papa Gunn,” he had six grandchildren, Ruby, Priscilla, Mariah, Layla Sadie and Neil.
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Just received the funeral program
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THE WORD OF GOD
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Luke 6
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12
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See more photos here
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