Thursday morning’s funeral for two South Simcoe police officers killed in the line of duty in Alcona last week is becoming more clear.
Const. Morgan Russell, 54, and Const. Devon Northrup, 33, will have a private funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. on Oct. 20 at Sadlon Arena in south-end Barrie. The funeral is not open to the public, but will include other police services and emergency service personnel.
Innisfil Community Church, located at 1571 Innisfil Beach Rd., will broadcast the funeral for members of the community who wish to watch the service. People are asked to arrive early to allow for parking and seating accommodations. The Town of Innisfil says a link to view at home will be provided once it is made available. There will also be a small reception post-broadcast at the church where people can gather and mourn together.
Meanwhile, local residents can also observe the funeral procession as it travels from Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Services (445 St. Vincent St.) to Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home (30 Worsley St.) before travelling to the arena on Bayview Drive.
On Monday afternoon, Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday that the exact details of the route through the city, such as road closures, were still being finalized and would be released to the public either later today or on Tuesday.
Thousands of police officers from across North America are expected to come to Barrie for Thursday's police funeral.
Ontario Provincial Police will also be responding to calls for services in Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury from Wednesday at 7 a.m. until Friday at 7 a.m., so local officers can attend the visitations and funeral service.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says the two officers did not draw their guns before being shot inside the Somers Boulevard house in Alcona around 8 p.m., Oct. 11, after responding to a disturbance call placed by a family member at the home. A third officer did exchange gunfire with the 22-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy on the man was scheduled for last Friday. The SIU has not commented on the results of the post-mortem examination.
The private visitation for Russell will take place at Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Services on Wednesday from noon until 3 p.m., while visitation for Northrup will happen at Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 2-4 p.m. Visitation to both is only for family and close friends.
