KEY POINTS:
Sergeant Derek Wootton's casket was carried through a guard of honour of his grieving colleagues as they farewelled him at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua today.
Family, friends and colleagues paid tribute to the 52-year-old, who they described as loyal, a mentor and a "great
guy".
More than 1000 mourners attended the service to remember Mr Wootton who was struck and killed by a stolen car as he laid spikes on a Porirua road early last Friday morning.
Mr Wootton's coffin, covered in flowers, the New Zealand police flag and his police helmet, was brought in by family members to the song Scarlet by Brooke Fraser.
Police Minister Annette King, local MP Winnie Laban, Kapiti Mayor Jenny Rowan and Porirua Mayor Jenny Brash were among the mourners.
In a tribute Kapiti Mana Area Commander John Spence said when he received the call at 3am on Friday to hear Mr Wootton was badly hurt, it was "his worst nightmare come true".
He described how Mr Wootton's workmates fought to save his life and how devastated they were when he died.
He said he wanted to "honour a colleague and friend who gave his life not only to Porirua but to the people of New Zealand".
Mr Wootton was a proven leader and a mentor to the young officers at his station, from whom he inspired "fierce loyalty", Mr Spence said.
"I saw that first-hand in facing up to them in the morning when their hearts were breaking."
P olice Commissioner Howard Broad said all police knew the dangers of joining the force.
"When a close friend and great guy is taken from us it is a reminder how vulnerable we are," he said.
He spoke of Mr Wootton's successful 14-year career in the force, which began in August 1994.
"Derek you filled a niche and accomplished your task. May your life be an inspiration," he said.
Mr Wootton's partner Bronwyn Hewitt said over the past few days she had heard of numerous small acts of kindness by him. She also spoke of her own personal loss.
"I've lost not only my best friend but my soul mate and the person I was going to spend the rest of my life with."
A slide show of Mr Wootton's life was played mid way through the service, accompanied by the song Sound of Silence.
A lone piper played as Mr Wootton's casket was carried out by colleagues from his Porirua station. Mr Broad saluted as it was carried to a waiting hearse.
Police recruits performed a haka as the hearse drove by.
It was escorted by police bikes and dogs as it drove through a police and fire officer guard of honour.
Police spokeswoman Kay Calder said it was poignant to consider Mr Wootton was the second officer from his section that trained at the college, to die in the line of duty.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the service balanced Mr Wootton the man and Mr Wootton the police officer.
"It's a very difficult thing. The family can sometimes be almost be subsumed by the policeness of these occasions but it was a very good balance of those who spoke and delivered eulogies and also the pastor Pene Patelesio," Mr O'Connor said.
He said Wootton was a "child of Porirua".
"He spent his entire life in Porirua, the ideal police officer. He's worked there and had a lot of contacts in Porirua. He actually joined the police relatively late as a 38 year-old so having all that background made things much easier," Mr O'Connor said.
He said the police sometimes don't feel as if they are appreciated by the public but this afternoon's turn-out showed how much the public value the police.
On May 27, 1999 Mangakino constable Lester Murray Stretch, 38, was bashed to death in the small Waikato town.
- NZPA