July 23, 2018                                                                                           

Governor Dayton Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Minnesota Corrections Officer Joseph Gomm

ST. PAUL, MN – In honor and remembrance of Minnesota Corrections Officer Joseph Brian Gomm, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

Officer Gomm, forty-five years of age, dedicated sixteen years of exemplary service to the Minnesota Department of Corrections. From Blaine, Gomm enjoyed cooking, playing video games, and had a love for animals. 

Officer Joseph Gomm was killed in the line of duty at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. He is survived by his mother, Gloria Gomm; brothers, Ken (Mary) Shuey, Norman Gomm Jr., and Anthony Gomm; sisters, Angela (George) Wood and Audrey (Chris) Cone; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins; his loving friend, Denise Vician; special friends, Tom and Vicki Chronakos, Rich Rauschen Dorfer and his many correctional officers and colleagues.   

A celebration of Officer Gomm’s life with public safety honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Thursday, July 26, 2018, preceding the service at 10:00 a.m. 

At the direction of the Governor, Minnesota flies its flags at half-staff following the death of Minnesota first responders fallen in the line of duty, on the day of interment. A copy of Governor Dayton’s proclamation, ordering flags to be flown at half-staff across our state, can be found here.

Flags at Half-Staff In keeping with appropriate flag etiquette and U.S. Code, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton may order the state flag to be flown at half-staff under very limited circumstances. He may also order the national flag to be flown at half-staff on state property only. A state flag on state property is required by law to be flown at half-staff if the national flag is flown at half-staff.

                           Office of Governor Mark Dayton •  www.mn.gov/governor