A candlelight vigil is planned for Tuesday night to honor Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Kunze.
Kunze was shot and killed Sunday afternoon during a confrontation with a suspect in a rural area north of Garden Plain.
The sheriff’s office says the vigil will begin at 7 p.m. at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Memorial at the corner of Main and Central. Parking is free at the Sedgwick County parking garage. Participants are asked to bring a candle.
Kunze's funeral is set for Friday at Central Community Church, 6100 W. Maple. The service begins at 10 a.m.
Internment will follow the service at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11800 W. Kellogg.
A viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Resthave Mortuary.
On Monday, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect in the case as Robert Greeson, 29. Greeson was also shot and killed during the encounter with Kunze.
Kunze was near the intersection of 21st Street North and 295th Street West to investigate reports of a suspicious person shortly after 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
The sheriff’s office says the deputy was trying to handcuff Greeson when the two started fighting and shots were fired.
Kunze was shot once and died about an hour later at a Wichita hospital. Greeson was shot twice and died at the scene.
Kunze worked in law enforcement for 18 years — the last 12 in Sedgwick County. He was 41.
Sheriff Jeff Easter says a critical stress management team is available to help staff deal with the death of Kunze.
“We as a sheriff’s office will be talking to our personnel. We will provide them with any support that they need to deal with this tragedy and we will be there as a family for everybody involved in this case,” Easter said.
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