BUFFALO, N.Y. — The funeral service for Buffalo Police Officer Craig Lehner will take place at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo Wednesday, Oct. 25, the Buffalo Police Department announced Thursday. 

Visitation hours will be Monday, Oct. 23, and Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 3-8 p.m. at the Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home in Hamburg. 

Buffalo Police expect thousands to attend the funeral for Lehner, who died during an underwater diving training excercise in the Niagara River.

"Craig's family once again wishes to express their amazement at the overwhleming support in the form of prayers, condolences, expressions of sympathy by so many from near and far," said Buffalo Police Chief Dennis J. Richards. The family welcomes the public to attend. 

There will be a large funeral procession to Forest Lawn Cemetery and street closures are expected. Those details will come later, Richards said. He anticipates thousands of uniformed officers, including members of the military, will attend. 

Richards also said that while details are not yet finalized, Shield, Lehner's partner, will have a "prominent role" during the services. 

"Craig E. Lehner is an American hero for his service to this city," Richards said. 

Lehner, 34, was a member of the Buffalo Police Department for nine years, including as a K-9 officer for the past year. Lehner was also a member of the police departments' Underwater Recovery Team and was on a training exercise with that team when he went missing in the Niagara River October 13. His body was recovered Tuesday afternoon.