New Life Church prepares for service to honor fallen El Paso County Sheriff’s deputy
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- New Life Church in Colorado Springs is preparing to hold the funeral of Deputy Andrew Peery, the El Paso County Sheriff's deputy who died in the line of duty.
Dep. Peery is one of two victims in a Security-Widefield shooting that happened Sunday, Aug. 7.
The church told KRDO it's expecting thousands of people to show up Monday, Aug. 15, to honor Dep. Peery. Additionally, many law enforcement agencies will participate in the service.
While church leaders say Monday will be emotional, they're expecting the regular services during the days leading up to it to be tough as well. While the loss of anyone is difficult, the church has a special connection to members of the local law enforcement community.
According to church leaders, many law enforcement officers and their families normally attend New Life Church.
"People are grieving all throughout our community. We have a huge military contingent here. And our congregation who have taken an oath to defend and to sacrifice. We have law enforcement officers and first responders in our church, and they're going to be feeling this in a particular way," said Daniel Grothe, an Associate Senior Pastor with New Life Church. "And so we want to gather together. This Sunday, we'll remember Deputy Peery's sacrifice in our services will gather."
The church said it's working hard to put on a service to honor Dep. Peery's legacy to the fullest.
“It's going to be a swirl of emotions. It's going to be memory. It's going to be honoring dignitaries and deputies and day laborers. They're going to show up here on Monday to remember a faithful man, a man who did not consider his own life more valuable than laying it down for other people. And so Monday, we're going to show up and we're going to remember that sacrifice,” said Grothe.
New Life encourages anyone who can attend Monday's funeral to come out and show their gratitude for Dep. Peery and his service.
For more information on the service, click here. KRDO will stream the service Monday.
