For people wishing to pay their respects to the two South Simcoe police officers killed in the line of duty last week, the route of Thursday’s funeral procession through Barrie has been finalized.
Constables Morgan Russell and Devon Northrup were shot and killed last week by a man inside the home after responding to a call in Innisfil. The officers had responded to a "disturbance" at the Alcona home around 8 p.m., Oct. 11. The wounded officers were rushed to the hospital by emergency run where Northrup, 33, died. Russell, 54, was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre and succumbed to his injuries early the next morning. The 22-year-old man who has been identified as the shooter was pronounced dead at the scene.
The procession route, which was released Wednesday afternoon and was coordinated by Ontario Provincial Police, will begin at approximately 9:20 a.m., Oct. 20, at Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Services at 445 St Vincent St., in north-end Barrie. From there, it will head to the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, located at 30 Worsley St., where the procession will continue to the city's south end.
The public is invited to observe the funeral procession as it travels to Sadlon Arena on Bayview Drive.
The planned travel route, from Adams Funeral Home to Steckley-Gooderham Funeral home and then to Sadlon Arena, is as follows:
— St. Vincent Street to Wellington Street East
— Wellington Street East to Clapperton Street
— Clapperton Street to Worsley Street
— Worsley Street to Bayfield Street
— Bayfield Street to Simcoe Street
— Simcoe Street to Bradford Street
— Bradford Street to Essa Road
— Essa Road to Gowan Street
— Gowan Street to Bayview Drive
— Bayview Drive to Little Avenue
— Little Avenue to Fairview Road
— Fairview Road to Big Bay Point Road
— Big Pay Point Road to Bayview Drive (the west side of Bayview Drive may be accessed by the public, with no public access on east side).
There will also be road closures in effect in Barrie on Thursday, Oct. 20.
Bayview Drive from Big Bay Point Road to Churchill Drive will be closed starting at 5 a.m. This road is expected to reopen at approximately 10 a.m.
In addition, Churchill Drive will be closed at Welham Road, with local traffic access only.
Bayview Drive from Churchill Drive to Mapleview Drive will be closed commencing at 8 a.m. This road is expected to reopen at approximately 4 p.m.
Harvie Road/Big Bay Point Road will be closed from Veterans Drive to Bayview Drive beginning at 5 a.m. These roads are expected to reopen at approximately 10 a.m. Note that Harvie Road becomes Big Bay Point Road at Fairview Road.
Fairview Road will be closed at Little Avenue, with local traffic access only.
Thousands of police officers from across North America are expected to come to Barrie for Thursday's private funeral service, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Sadlon Arena.
The funeral is not open to the public, but will include other police services and emergency service personnel.
Members of the public may view the funeral proceedings via a livestream (the link will be made available on the South Simcoe Police Service website and social media Thursday morning) or on local television.
For those in the community who wish to gather in person, a broadcast of the funeral is being offered at the Innisfil Community Church located at 1571 Innisfil Beach Road, Innisfil, and the St. John's Presbyterian Church located at 2940 Sideroad 10, Bradford.
The South Simcoe Police Service will share livestream information on their social media channels, including its main Twitter account @SouthSimcoePS, as well as on their website.
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, but results have not been announced.
SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette said Wednesday that since “post-mortem results are considered evidence, we would not release that information while the investigation is ongoing.”
The OPP will also be responding to calls for services in Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury until Friday at 7 a.m., so local officers can attend the visitations and funeral service.
Many members of Innisfil/Bradford West Gwillimbury Fire and Rescue will be attending the funeral. To ensure no disruption to public safety, fire and rescue coverage will be provided by Barrie Fire & Emergency Services, New Tecumseth Fire, Springwater Fire & Emergency Services, Essa Fire and Wasaga Beach Fire.
