“We’ve got an officer down, at least one officer down.”

Those harrowing words broke through the jabber of police scanner traffic just before 4 p.m. Monday, foreshadowing the tragic outcome and transforming an otherwise mundane Feb. 5, 2018, into the death date forever written on the tombstone of El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputy Micah Flick.

Flick, 34, will be honored Saturday during a funeral at New Life Church, 11025 Voyager Parkway. Afterward, a procession of thousands of law enforcement officers will usher his body toward its final resting place at Eastonville Cemetery, where family and friends will have a private burial.

“It will be a very moving tribute,” New Life’s Senior Pastor Brady Boyd said. “Very honoring to Micah.”

Boyd recommended those attending the funeral arrive at least an hour early. Flick’s casket will arrive at 12:15 p.m., then be transferred to a horse-drawn coach for a final journey to the church’s entrance. The service will start at 1 p.m. and is expected to last about 90 minutes.

In addition to Boyd, Gov. John Hickenlooper, Sheriff Bill Elder, Flick’s wife and several other family members and friends are expected to speak.

While the possibility of snowy weather Saturday could reduce the number of guests, Brady said the church is prepared for overflow beyond the auditorium’s capacity of 6,000.

“Overflow will be in the lobby where they can watch the service on TV screens, and if that fills, well, then we’ll have to turn people away,” Boyd said. “It would be the biggest funeral in the city ever.”

Authorities have released few details on Flick’s death but said he died in a gunbattle stemming from an auto theft investigation. Three teammates on the Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement task force also were injured: Deputy Scott Stone was shot in the abdomen, Sgt. Jacob Abendschan was sprayed with shrapnel, and Colorado Springs Police Officer Marcus Yanez was shot in the groin. They are expected to recover.

A civilian also caught in the crossfire, Thomas Villanueva, was severely injured and may never walk again.

The reported target of the investigation, Manuel Zetina, 19, was killed.

Flick’s death came on the 11th anniversary of his first day with the Sheriff’s Office. He had worked his way up to detective in investigations, but he’d also served as security in the county jail, as court transport, on the special response team and on patrol.

He was a Colorado Springs native who “could be counted on for a solid handshake, a genuine conversation, a corny joke and his personal, humorous take on the latest hit pop song,” his obituary said. “Everyone who met Micah would describe him as a man of integrity, honor and servitude; a true hero.”

He was a 2002 graduate of the Colorado Springs Christian School, where he was quarterback on the football team and, during his junior year, led the team to its first playoff berth.

He also was a man “passionate about his faith, his family, and his community,” his obituary said, echoing the sentiment of friends who described him as “a godly man” and a “servant.”

He’d earned several other names that he also carried proudly, his family said in a written statement: “Husband, Father, Son, Grandson, Brother, Uncle, Nephew.” He was “a truly wonderful man who was many different things to many different people,” the statement said.

Flick was a member of New Life Church for 20 years. It’s where he married his wife, Rachael Flick, and where the couple regularly attended services with their 7-year-old twins, Eliana and Levi.

It’s also where his family will ultimately say goodbye:

“We take comfort in knowing that Micah’s legacy will be his faith in God and his deep, rich character that will continue to shine in the hearts and lives of his wife, Rachael and their two children, whom he loved with his whole heart.”