Funeral, Procession For Fallen Phoenix Cop Thursday

PHOENIX, AZ — The memorial service for fallen Phoenix police officer Paul Rutherford will take place on Thursday at 10 a.m.

The memorial service will be held at Christ's Church of the Valley located at 7007 W Happy Valley Road in Peoria. The service will be followed by a procession to Phoenix Memorial Park and Cemetery.

Police advised residents that heavy traffic is expected in the area at the time of the procession. There will also be traffic restrictions and freeway closures for the procession.

According to AZ Central, the procession route is expected to include 67th Avenue south from Happy Valley Road to Loop 101; westbound on the Loop 101 to Seventh Street. The paper reported that the public is invited to the funeral.

Rutherford, 51, was killed in the line of duty one week ago. He was responding to a collision when he was struck and killed by another car. Rutherford had been with the department for nearly 23 years. He leaves behind a wife and two adult sons.