LEWISTON – A funeral for Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Deputy David Rancourt is expected to be heavily attended as friends, family and fellow officers turn out to pay their respects.

Police are advising that several blocks in Lewiston will likely be jammed with traffic before and after the services, to be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Ash Street.

Rancourt died Saturday morning shortly after suffering a medical crisis while diving with a trained team in the Androscoggin River. The cause of his death is still being investigated.

Rancourt was a 10-year veteran of the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department and a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army.

“It’s going to be a very big funeral,” said Lewiston police Lt. Michael McGonagle.

With that in mind, police are alerting local residents and motorists to be aware of traffic disruptions expected the morning of the funeral.

Police officers and military personal will meet at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Birch Street at 9 a.m. They will gather and march as a group to Jefferson Street, then to Ash Street and on to the basilica.

This area will also be closed to traffic and there will be no parking allowed along this route from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The area will be clearly marked by signs, McGonagle said.

Bartlett Street between College and Ash streets will also be closed to traffic. Following the funeral Mass, interment will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery on Switzerland Road. A procession of police vehicles will travel from Bartlett Street to Ash Street, right onto Bates Street, right onto Main Street, then left into the cemetery. Traffic along this route will be briefly interrupted, police said.

Public parking near the basilica may be difficult. Police recommend using the nearby municipal parking lot and garage.