Funerals are sad and significant times for any family as they’re saying goodbye to a loved one. However, there’s also quite a bit to consider, as there are many moving parts to the occasion. Naturally, one of the most important parts is the funeral procession. Sometimes, this includes a police escort, but who gets them, and how does it work?
What is a funeral procession and who gets police escorts?
Funerals are about honoring and saying goodbye to loved ones. A significant part of the occasion is the funeral procession. This is when the people attending travel to the burial site. However, there is sometimes a police escort to lead the family. In this case, the funeral procession gets the right of way on highways. It allows for a smoother trip to the burial site and can also help control the crowd in busier cities.
So, many people have seen the police escorts for a funeral procession and wondered who gets them. There are a few main reasons for this. The first is if it’s a funeral for a police officer or various types of first responders. These people are pillars of communities, and it makes sense they’d have an escort.
The second is when there is a funeral procession for a well-known person. Naturally, this would garner attention, and having a police escort will help ensure things go as planned en route to the burial site. This can also be true for a person who the public has a significant hate or distaste for. Funerals that take place farther distances from the burial site might also get a police escort.
However, people should also note that traffic often stops for funeral processions without a police presence. It’s a fairly long-held tradition that people pull over, if possible, at the sight of a hearse or find other ways to not get in the middle of the line of cars involved with the funeral.
Who pays for the police presence at funerals?
Having a police escort for a funeral procession isn’t free. After all, the police department is expending resources for the occasion and taking officers from regular patrol duty. Typically, the people planning the funeral will reach out to the local precinct and inquire about pricing, which can vary. According to Ever Loved, as of 2022, it was $100 for one officer to be on duty for one hour at a funeral.
Of course, some funerals may require more officers, and some people even ask for security. These things all make having a police escort more expensive, but probably still worth it in order to preserve the integrity of the event.
