Up to 1,000 vehicles are expected to participate in a funeral procession today for Cobb County Deputy Jonathan Randall Koleski, killed last week in the line of duty.
Those driving in the area between a Kennesaw church and a Canton cemetery should expect delays, police said.
Koleski and Marshall Samual Ervin Jr. died last week after being shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant. Separate services are planned this week for the deputies.
PHOTOS: Community pays respect to Cobb Deputy Jonathan Koleski
Visitation for Koleski, 42, is scheduled until 11 a.m. today at NorthStar Church, located at 3413 Blue Springs Road in Kennesaw. A service will follow at noon. The church seats around 1,400.
A U.S. Army veteran who later served in the Georgia National Guard, Koleski will be buried at 2:30 p.m. at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.
Koleski’s casket was escorted by at least 30 law enforcement vehicles to NorthStar Church shortly before 8:45 a.m. Honor guards from metro Atlanta agencies lined up the pathway towards the entrance of the church to take the casket in, which was taken in once the family arrived.
Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens, Gov. Brian Kemp, police chiefs and sheriffs from around the area, as well as the general public and officers from multiple agencies are expected to attend the service.
Local agencies expect heavy traffic on Kennesaw and Acworth streets beginning shortly after 1 p.m.
Portions of Blue Springs Road are expected to be closed until 3 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
Those wishing to watch Wednesday’s procession should gather at Chastain Road and George Busbee Parkway near Miller’s Ale House. The public is encouraged to watch the livestream of the service available at live.northstarchurch.org. The service will also be livestreamed on the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office YouTube page and the Cobb County Government YouTube Channel.
Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office
Between 1:45 p.m. and 2 p.m., the procession is expected to travel north on I-575 in Woodstock, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said. The procession will then travel to exit 16 in Canton to Knox Bridge and to the Georgia National Cemetery.
“Motorists traveling near the funeral route should expect extensive delays,” the Cherokee sheriff’s office said.
The service for Ervin is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday at West Ridge Church, located at 3522 Hiram Acworth Highway in Dallas. Visitation begins at noon.
The public is encouraged to watch the livestream of that service at westridge.com/live. The service will also be streamed on the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office YouTube page.
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