What to expect at Moore's funeral

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - With the passing of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer David Moore, teams for the police department have worked to help Moore’s family and fellow officers cope and say goodbye.

On Tuesday, a volunteer chaplain with the Indiana State Police, spoke about coping with the loss and how funerals for officers are handled. Dan Moran has officiated over funerals for other Indiana police officers killed in the line of duty.

"The honor guard is probably already activated now because this was a prolonged hospital stay,” Moran said Tuesday. “They are probably gathering to get a location to meet. (Maybe) a gym because most churches aren't big enough.”

Moran says they also help anyone involved.

"We want to get into contact with all of the people who were involved with that critical incident, whether it was a dispatcher, because somebody was the last person to talk to that officer. They will wonder, ‘Did I do it right?" Moran said.

The honor guard will stay by the side of their fellow officer, David Moore.

"The honor guard is chosen in full uniform and will be at the side of the casket the entire time it is on display,” Moran said.

In 2004, thousands of people attended the funeral of 31-year-old Officer Jake Laird, who was shot and killed responding to the call of an officer down. He was the last officer killed in the line of duty in Indianapolis. More than 1,000 police and public safety vehicles lined the parking lot that day. The slow-moving procession stretched seven miles through the city.

"There will be a horse and there will be boots in the saddle but no rider because the rider has been killed,” Moran said. “They will have his patrol car with the windshield all blacked out, draped with a black cloth."

Then one of the most emotional moments marking the death of their friend and fellow officer will come.

"During the funeral procession they will do his final sign off on the air,” Moran said. “The dispatcher will come on, he will be called to duty and he will be signed off for the final time."

Every officer on patrol will hear the final sign off. Officers from around the country are expected for the funeral, and many will pitch in by taking over IMPD shifts, so the fellow officers can pay their respects.