Hundreds of mourners including some from overseas will attend the funeral service tomorrow of Sergeant Derek Wootton, Porirua Police, who died last Friday after he was struck by a stolen car in Titahi Bay.
Sergeant Wootton's family, many friends and several hundred police colleagues are expected to celebrate the life of the hugely respected frontline supervisor at his funeral service which starts at 1.30pm, in the RNZPC gymnasium.
The service will be lead by Father Pene as the officiating Porirua Police chaplain and family priest, assisted by Padre David Dell, chaplain from the Royal New Zealand Police College.
The Minister of Police, Hon Annette King; the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Hon Winnie Laban and local MP, Police Commissioner Howard Broad and other service personnel including police representatives from Australia will be amongst the dignitaries attending.
Sergeant Wootton's police colleagues from throughout Kapiti Mana Area, particularly his home station of Porirua, and his former station of Upper Hutt, will attend to pay their last respects to a friend and workmate. Policing duties will continue throughout the Kapiti Mana Area with staff coming in to assist from other areas.
The service, with a police Honour Guard, including a piper, police dogs, and police patrol bikes, will remain first and foremost a family service. Eulogies will be delivered by Sergeant Wootton's partner Bronwyn Hewitt, his brother's John and Dave, niece Ashleigh Wootton and close friend John Ryan. Police speakers are Commissioner Broad; Inspector John Spence, Kapiti Mana Area Police Commander, and Sergeant Dean Silvester, Porirua Police.
Ends
Released by Kaye Calder
Wellington Police District communications manager
tel 04 496 3464