LAWRENCE — A green DPW truck from the town of Billerica along with blue Lawrence police wooden barriers blocked traffic at Andover Street and Broadway Friday.
Police motorcyclists escorted the funeral procession to St. Patrick’s Church on South Broadway for Billerica Police Sgt. Ian Taylor, 49, a Lawrence native and former city officer who was killed a week prior while working a road job.
As Massachusetts State Police bagpipers played, an estimated 1,000 police officers from across New England stood in front of the church.
A day before, hundreds of officers also gathered for a “walk through” procession at Taylor’s wake at Cataudella Funeral Home in Methuen.
Taylor was killed just before 2 p.m. on Friday, April 26, when he was struck by an excavator that was backing up in a construction site on Boston Road in Billerica where he was working.
Taylor’s immediate survivors include his wife, Mindy, and children, Kylee and Nathan. His father, Wayne Taylor, is a retired Lawrence captain and his brother, Zack, is a Lawrence police detective.
He also served in the Lawrence Police Department for seven years before joining the Billerica Police Department where he was a detective.
Taylor’s longtime friend, Mac Livingston, spoke about Taylor during the funeral Mass.
Following the funeral Mass, a police motorcade escorted Taylor and his family to the burial, which was private.
Donations may be made to The Greg Hill Foundation to support Taylor’s family at thegreghillfoundation.org.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.