KEY POINTS:
Don Wilkinson, the 28th police officer to be killed in the line of duty, will be farewelled in a combined service that will be open to the public this week.
The 46-year-old sergeant died after being shot several times during a covert drug operation in Mangere early on Thursday.
His funeral will be on Thursday at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Parnell. It will be a combined police and family service, meaning members of the public will be able to attend.
Superintendent Ted Cox, commander for Auckland Metro crime and operations support, which was running the fatal drug operation, said Mr Wilkinson's family were working with officers on the funeral arrangements and further details were expected to be available tomorrow.
Members of the public wanting to pay their respects are also invited to visit Manukau's police station and write in a book of condolences, which will eventually be presented to his family.
Mr Wilkinson had spent nine years in the police, most of them serving in the technical support unit, which assisted other units such as the one investigating clandestine drug laboratories.
He and another officer were planting a tracking device under a car at a suspected drug lab when they were chased down.
An autopsy revealed Mr Wilkinson died from a shot to the chest. His colleague, who was wearing a stab-proof vest, was also shot and is recovering in hospital.
A 37-year-old man has been charged with murder and a 33-year-old man with assault. Both charges are in relation to Mr Wilkinson and police say other charges are likely to follow.
