Donation to the U of M Raptor Center Made in Memory of Officer Joe Gomm

By Lieutenant Cory Felda

On April 15th, a $10,000 donation was made to the University of MN Raptor Center in memory of Officer Joe Gomm EOW 7/18/18. The donation was the culmination of a year-long fundraiser through the sale of Joe Gomm Memorial Challenge Coins, clothing and tumblers, as well as private donations. The donation is being utilized directly for the medical care and treatment of an American Kestrel being housed at the Raptor Center, and a plaque has been attached to it's cage in tribute to Officer Gomm.

"In the days before his death, Joe Gomm delievered a pair of injured birds to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center after the chicks had fallen out of their nest on prison grounds. On the last day of his life, Joe emailed the Raptor Center to inquire the status of the two Americal kestrels, the smallest and most common type of falcon in North America. On July 25th (2018), the day before Gomm's memorial service, the two birds were released outside prison grounds as a living tribute to Joe's heroic legacy." (Officer Joseph Gomm Tribute, 2018)

Another donation will be made on 7/18/24 from continued sales of coins and tumblers. For questions about the fundraiser or making a donation, please contact Lt. Cory Felda at Cory.Felda@state.mn.us. Direct donations to the Raptor center are also accepted; any given in his honor will only be used for the care of his kestrel.

Officer Gomm's memorial on his kestrel's enclosure

Photo of the two kestrels Officer Gomm saved in 2018

Photos of the kestrel that has been saved in Officer Gomm's honor.