A crowd of mourners is expected Wednesday for the funeral of Dale Claxton, the police officer and longtime Cortez resident slain in a hail of bullets.

The body of Claxton, 45, was taken Saturday to Montrose for an autopsy. The body will be returned to Cortez for a funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Cortez High School football field.

At least 18 gunshots from an automatic weapon penetrated Claxton’s police cruiser, killing him instantly, according to a news release from the Cortez Police Department.

Claxton is survived by his wife, Sue, a 12-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. He also has a daughter, Judy, 24, and a son, Colon, 23, by a previous marriage.

Born in Omaha, he was raised in the Denver area and came to Cortez in 1973. He joined the Cortez Police Department in 1995, the same year he graduated from the Delta-Montrose Tech Center with his peace officer certificate.

Two Montezuma County sheriff’s deputies also were shot Friday. Deputy Todd Martin, 35, was in stable condition Saturday at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez following surgery for gunshot wounds to the left arm and right knee.Martin’s injuries could have been deadly.

"The wound to the arm was severe enough that he probably would have died if another officer didn’t arrive to stop the bleeding," Ray said. "Blood was literally squirting out of his arm."

The gunshot ripped away extensive muscle in his arm, and not enough skin remained to close the wound, Ray said. Skin grafts will be used to help repair the damage.

Martin’s kneecap also was shattered, but surgeons say they will be able to patch it up, Ray said. After reconstructive surgery and physical therapy, surgeons expect a full recovery for his leg and arm, he added.

Deputy Jason Bishop, 25, who suffered a superficial gunshot wound to the head, was released from the hospital Saturday afternoon.

A fund will be set up Monday for the Claxton family. Contributions can be sent to Centennial Savings Bank, 343 E. Main, Cortez, CO, 81321, telephone 565-3446.