Fallen Officer Craig Lehner's funeral will be held Wednesday, October 25th at 10 a.m. in the KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo. Some are expecting it could be one of the largest funerals ever seen in Buffalo with the attendance of thousands of people.
Buffalo Police recovered the body of Lehner, 34, from the Niagara River, five days after he never resurfaced following a training exercise with the department's underwater recovery team.
7 Eyewitness News reporter Ed Reilly spent the day seeing how people were preparing to show their respect for the Lehner family. Everyone from adults to young school children are hoping to send a message of support to the family and law enforcement.
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Buffalo Police Lt. Jeff Rinaldo said, "Anyone not planning on attending the services should avoid the areas in and around Key Center, starting at 6 a.m. and continuing to the early afternoon."
Here's a list of funeral procession route and street closures:
- Delaware Avenue from Niagara Square all the way to Forest Lawn Cemetery.
- The procession is expected to start at 11:30 a.m. and last until early afternoon.
- Delavan Avenue between Delaware and Main Street.
- Main Street between Canisius College and Delavan Avenue.
- these streets will accommodate parking, traffic, and the procession
- Ohio Street from Ganson Street to Michigan Street will be used as a staging area and public parking for what police expect to be hundreds of cars.
- Perry Street, Scott Street, and Washington Street
- the procession will flow through these streets
- Erie Avenue into the Erie Basin Marina will used for police parking only.
Thousands of uniformed officers from across the country are expected to line Perry Street.
Buffalo Police released the following traffic advisory and parking information Tuesday morning:
· Road and street closures will begin on Lakeshore Road in Hamburg at 8:30 AM as the funeral procession for Buffalo Police Officer Craig E. Lehner moves from Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, proceeding north on Route 5 to the KBC in the City of Buffalo.
· At that time, the northbound lanes of Route 5 will be closed intermittently from Camp Road, Hamburg to the Ohio Street exit in Downtown Buffalo, on a rolling basis, until all of the processional vehicles have passed.
· The procession will turn right on Michigan Avenue from Ohio Street; turn left on Perry Street; turn right on Washington Street; turn left on Scott Street; turn left on Main Street; and turn left on Perry Street.
· No unauthorized traffic will be permitted in the restricted area from 7:00 AM until12:00 PM (or until the full procession has left the KBC).
· Members of the public are encouraged to utilize public transportation, as the NFTA will be providing more frequent rail service throughout the day. The following parking is open to the public, until all spaces are filled:
· Closest to Fountain Plaza Metro Rail
· Augspurger Ramp - 362 Pearl Street, Buffalo 14202
(1.1 mi from Key Bank Center)
· Closest to Church Street Metro Rail
· Ellicott-Oak Lot - 205 Ellicott Street, Buffalo 14203
(.08 mi from Key Bank Center)
· Adam Ramp - 343 Washington Street, Buffalo 14203
(.07 mi from Key Bank Center)
· Fernbach Ramp - 200 Pearl Street, Buffalo 14202
(.08 mi from Key Bank Center)
· Main Place Ramp - 221 Pearl Street, Buffalo 14202
(.08 mi from Key Bank Center)
· Parking within Walking Distance of Key Bank Center
· 1 Seneca Ramp - 1 Seneca Tower, Buffalo 14203
(.05 mi from Key Bank Center)
· The procession will leave the KBC at approximately 11:30 AM and will proceed to Forest Lawn Cemetery from Perry Street. It will then turn left on Michigan Avenue; turn left on Scott Street; turn right on Washington Street; turn left on Exchange Street; turn right on Franklin Street and proceeding by Buffalo Police Headquarters at Church Street; turn left on Niagara Street; turn right at Niagara Square; and turn right on Delaware Avenue, proceeding northbound to West Delavan Street to the entrance to Forest Lawn Cemetery at 1411 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo 14209.
· The procession will arrive at the Cemetery and proceed to Section 33 ½. Graveside seating will be available only for the Lehner family and friends who enter with the official procession. Credentialed media will be escorted to the press area in this Section, but must arrive at the Delaware – West Delavan entrance by 10:00 AM.
· Parking will be restricted (as posted) from the foot of Franklin Street at Seneca Street to Niagara Square; and on the east and west sides of North Street at Delaware Avenue.
· Traffic on Delaware Avenue in the north and southbound lanes and on all east/west cross streets will be intermittently delayed until the procession passes.
· Parking will be prohibited on the east (northbound) side of Delaware Avenue from Niagara Square to West Delavan Street.
· Main Street from West Delavan Street to Jefferson Avenue; and Delavan Street between Main Street and Delaware Avenue will be closed from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM.
· Buses transporting members of the Buffalo Police Department will park off-site and will return for pick-up at the conclusion of the ceremony at the Cemetery.
