ROADS will be closed and traffic disrupted this morning as Tamworth stops to mourn the loss of Senior Constable David Rixon in a full police funeral that will include a ceremonial farewell of marching escorts, roadside guard of honour and hundreds of police colleagues.
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The funeral service for the long-time Tamworth highway patrolman, who was gunned down while on duty last Friday morning in a West Tamworth street, will be held from 10.30am.
The police car, which will be a permanent tribute to slain Highway Patrol offier David Rixon, before today's service.
But changes to road networks will come into place before then to allow for the ceremonial service and for the hundreds of family, friends and everyday Tamworth citizens to salute the husband, son, and father of six children.
Rolling road closures will operate from about 9.30am as mourners descend on St Paul’s Church in Church St, West Tamworth, for the service but will affect streets from Denne St to Kable Ave at various times until about noon.
Intermittent closures will also affect traffic lanes along Bridge St from 9.30am, including when the procession leaves the church after the service.
The ceremonial marching escort and guard of honour is expected to form down Bridge St from outside the church and continue down Bridge St and across the Ebsworth St intersection to Carter St.
That procession will include police cars, motorbikes, a police band and police on foot.
Police aircraft will also join the salute in the air.
All 120 of the Tamworth-based Oxley Local Area Command have been relieved of duties today to attend and police from outside the region will man the station and operational duties in their place.
Senior police reported yesterday that police and political figureheads from nearly all Australian states and territories will also attend along with representatives from the NSW Ambulance Service and NSW Fire and Rescue.
Mr Scipione will read the valedictory alongside a eulogy from the Rixon family.
The service will also be streamed to big screens outside the church.
Superintendent Clint Pheeney of the Oxley Local Area Command said today was a celebration of Constable Rixon’s life and his achievements as a police officer.
“I think it will be a time to mourn and grieve with the family of David and all of our colleagues over his tragic loss,” he said. "It will also be a time to remember the contribution he’s made to the community and the NSW Police Force.
Superintendent Pheeney said burying an officer under your command was something he hoped no other commander or anyone in the police family would have to do again.
Rural fires service personnel will help with the network of road closures today, including in Taminda and off-streets from Church St and Bridge St that feed into the area.
Temporary road signage will be in place and motorists have been asked to adhere to requests from traffic officials.
Police said it would be best to avoid those areas of the city between 10.30am until noon.
The family and close friends of Constable Rixon will attend a private burial ceremony after the service.
