For nearly 35 years, Sgt. Daniel Rush served the people of Forsyth County.
But it was the deputy’s heroic actions in 2014 that likely helped save lives. On June 6 of that year, Rush was working at the county courthouse when he confronted a man wearing a bulletproof vest and a gas mask and armed with multiple explosives and ammunition. Rush approached Dennis Marx, who shot the deputy before others returned fire, killing Marx.
On Monday, Rush died from an undisclosed illness with fellow deputies by his side, the sheriff’s office said. He was 57.
“Sergeant Rush is a genuine hero; he was wounded in the line of duty in 2014 when he confronted a deranged gunman on the courthouse steps,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. “Sergeant Rush’s engagement of the gunman gave fellow deputies time to respond and protect those within the courthouse.”
After his injury, Rush was recognized with the sheriff’s office’s Purple Heart award, and he was named the 2014 Deputy Sheriff of the Year for Valor by the Georgia Sheriff’s Association.
In January 2016, Rush returned to work after recovering from multiple surgeries to repair a broken tibia and fibula.
Rush’s law enforcement career began as a dispatcher with the sheriff’s office in 1990 and would have celebrated 35 years with the agency Feb. 8.
A celebration of life service will be held Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church Cumming. McDonald and Son Funeral Home and Crematory in Cumming is in charge of arrangements.
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