Rick, remembered: Commissioner and former sheriff dies | From the Newsroom

Cliffhanging dreams; new development in Norwood child deaths case

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Remembering Rick The news came as a shock. Rick Dunlap, a man I'd worked with professionally for close to 20 years, died suddenly on Saturday. Rick was running for sheriff when I first met him. When he won the office, he was professional and accessible — but also, simply a good human. And that's how we interacted: human to human. I don't remember ever making him angry by writing a story, although I probably did from time to time.  I do remember falling on my face right in front of him at a scene one time (a literal, and complete faceplant); accidentally finding myself in the pitch-black dark when trying to find another scene, only to realize from radio traffic that I was on the wrong side of the perimeter. I called him. He guided me out. He laughed when I joked about joining the posse (it is well known that I am only proficient with a shotgun which, as my own mother noted, is hard to miss with - and I'm not even all that proficient!). And the bizarre cases that came up on my beat sometimes had us talking. Plenty of other people could tell you better stories about Rick, a native of Tennessee and Army veteran, who after retiring as sheriff, reemerged to run successfully for county commissioner. He was sworn into that role on Jan. 14. On Feb. 8, he was gone, leaving devastated friends and colleagues around the region. "It's so terrible," summed up Amy Eifling of Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans, where Dunlap was a board member and stalwart volunteer. "Absolute shock" were the words Montrose Police Chief Blaine Hall used, reminding us all to not take our loved ones for granted. Adam Murdie, who served as Rick's undersheriff before moving on to become the Gunnison County sheriff, said he's mourning the loss of a friend and mentor, "a great man, gone too soon." Rick's funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, at the Montrose County Event Center (fairgrounds). Think a good thought for a good man, and several more for those he leaves behind. Rest in peace, Rick. — Katharhynn, from the Newsroom (Here is Rick, working on restoring an engine, several years back. He wasn't just a sheriff who went on to be a commissioner, but was also a man of many hobbies and passions. Our then-photographer Sydney (Warner) Crosby took this photo.)

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