Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming will be farewelled and laid to rest in a ceremony in Nelson from 1pm today.
The policewoman died after being struck by a vehicle in central Nelson just after 2am on New Year’s Day.
STORY CONTINUES AFTER THE LIVE BLOG
STORY CONTINUES
Fleming is the first policewoman to be killed in the line of duty in New Zealand. She was also the first police officer to be killed while on duty in Nelson.
The funeral will begin after a wreath-laying ceremony this morning.
Her family, friends, colleagues, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries, and members of the community will gather at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson to farewell the 62-year-old.
With the blessing of Fleming’s family, the funeral service will be conducted with full police honours.
The funeral will also be livestreamed on the police website and here at nzherald.co.nz.
Fleming is survived by her husband Bryn, children Rayna and Aren, parents Ray and Colleen, and siblings Woody, Carol, and Jo.
In a funeral notice, the family said: “Her light was taken from the world, and the lives of all who knew her.
“Our sincere gratitude to the staff at Nelson Hospital, whose heroic efforts enabled Lyn’s family to be present in her final moments.”
Fleming, who had been a police officer for 38 years, died after she and Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay were struck by a vehicle in central Nelson in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
A 32-year-old man has been charged with murdering Fleming and attempting to murder Ramsay.
He is also facing two charges of assault using a vehicle as a weapon, two charges of wounding with intent, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified.
At his first appearance in the Nelson District Court on January 3 the accused was granted interim name suppression.
The order has since been extended until at least his next appearance in the High Court at Nelson on February 14.
Police have said that the man may face further charges as the investigation into the fatal incident continues.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said earlier that it was an honour to give Fleming a full police funeral.
“This is something I wish we didn’t have to plan for, but I am grateful to Lyn’s family for allowing her police family to be an integral part of her final farewell,” he said.
“Lyn has made the ultimate sacrifice as a police officer, so it is appropriate we honour her with a formal police funeral.”
Those formal proceedings will begin with Fleming’s casket arriving at the venue by police motorcade.
A number of her colleagues and close family will speak at the service which is expected to run for two hours.
At the end of the funeral, Fleming will be carried to the hearse through a police honour guard.
A police piper will play and there will be a flag presentation to her family and a haka from her colleagues.
This morning, before the service, a wreath-laying ceremony took place. Floral tributes were laid by police in New Zealand and overseas in memory of Fleming.
Yesterday police - and many New Zealanders - observed a minute’s silence in honour of Fleming.
“We ... invited staff to pause and observe a minute’s silence wherever they are to remember the ultimate sacrifice of one of our own and reflect as we prepare to lay Lyn to rest,” said Chambers.
All police flags will continue to fly at half-mast until tomorrow.
And Auckland Council will mark the passing of the slain officer by turning off the harbour bridge lights. The Sky Tower lights will also not be lit tonight.
Deaths on duty: the full list of Kiwi police killed on the job
Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming is the 34th police officer to die as a result of a criminal act in New Zealand.
Her fallen colleagues include:
Constable Matthew Hunt, June 2020
Senior Constable Len Snee, May 2009
Sergeant Don Wilkinson, September 2008
Sergeant Derek Wootton, July 2008
Detective Constable Duncan Taylor, July 2002
Constable Lester Murray Stretch, May 1999
Constable Glenn McKibbin, April 1996
Sergeant Stewart Guthrie, November 1990
Senior Constable Peter Umbers, May 1990
Traffic Officer Robin Dudding, April 1986
Traffic Officer Barry Gibson, June 1977
Constable Peter Murphy, September 1976
Sergeant Gilbert Peter Arcus, February 1970
Detective Constable Ronald Bernard Hill, May 1969
Constable Donald Stokes, August 1966
Constable Bryan Schultz, February 1963
Constable James Richardson, February 1963
Detective Inspector Wallace Chalmers, January 1963
Constable Louis Hekenui (Heke) Bidois, May 1956
Sergeant William Shore Hughes, May 1951
Traffic Officer John Kehoe, January 1949
Constable Edward Best, October 1941
Constable Percy Tulloch, October 1941
Constable Frederick Jordan, October 1941
Sergeant William Cooper, October 1941
Constable James Butler, January 1938
Constable Thomas Heeps, October 1934
Constable James Dorgan, August 1921
Constable Vivian Dudding, October 1919
Constable John Doyle, February 1913
Sergeant John Patrick Hackett McGuire, April 1910
Constable Neil McLeod, July 1890
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