A public memorial ceremony for slain Vancouver Police Department Officer Donald Sahota will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at ilani casino.
Anyone who attends the ceremony will be required to follow guidelines to protect against the spread of COVID-19, including showing proof of a COVID vaccine or a negative test result within 72 hours of the service.
Attendees will also need to wear face masks, according to Vancouver police. KN95 masks will be available at the event center but COVID tests will not, a police news release states.
Once vaccine status has been confirmed, attendees will receive a wristband to enter. Doors will open to the public at noon, the Vancouver police spokespeople said at a Monday media briefing.
Procession to the service
Prior to the service, a procession of about 400 law enforcement and EMS vehicles will drive from Crossroads Community Church to the casino, a police department news release states.
The procession will leave the church, 7708 N.E. 78th St., at 10:30 a.m. It will go west on 78th Street, turn north on Northeast Andresen Road and then turn east on Padden Parkway. The procession will then turn north on Interstate 205 to the merge with Interstate 5 and continue north on the freeway.
Sahota’s motorcade will join the procession on the freeway at 179th Street, where there will also be an honorary fly-over, the news release states. The procession will then proceed to the La Center exit and take the roundabouts west to the casino.
For those unable to attend, New Heights Church – Central Vancouver Campus, 7913 N.E. 58th Ave., will livestream the service in its main auditorium. The church will open its doors at noon, and the livestream will begin at 1 p.m. Face coverings are required to be worn through the duration.
To watch the memorial service online, the live feed will be available beginning at 1 p.m. at https://bit.ly/Sahotamemorial.
Delays and well-wishers
During the procession, drivers should expect delays on northbound I-5 and I-205 onramps along the route.
People may watch the procession along the route, but it is illegal for people to congregate alongside the freeway, the news release states.
Any drivers who encounter the procession on either freeway are asked to pull over and stop until it passes. The agency asks that people don’t try to cut in or interfere with the procession. Anyone who wants to watch it from an overpass should not park their cars or stand in the road.
Those looking to make donations to the Sahota family can continue to donate at any Chase bank branch by referencing the Officer Sahota Memorial Fund. Cards or letters for the police department or Sahota’s family can also be mailed to Vancouver police’s headquarters at 605 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661.
