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The Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial service honoured four men and women killed in the line of duty last year.
Two names were added to the Pillars of Strength memorial at the Alberta Legislature on Alberta Police and Peace Officer Memorial Day. Constable David Wynn was shot and killed in January, while Constable Daniel Woodall died after being shot in June.
Woodall’s wife Claire Woodall laid the wreath on behalf of the fallens’ families and says the show of support in the procession that started the day is overwhelming.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s unfathomable. Like I’ve said, you can’t really comprehend it,” she says. “I still sometimes don’t think that it’s us that this has happened to; I’m sure that Wynn’s family is the same. You couldn’t ask for better support, for a better community, for a better family, for a better city.”
For everyone in attendance the day is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Thinking about those who have fallen can be hard, but the support shown in the attendance of not only those in the policing community, but the public as well. For RCMP Assistant Commissioner Marianne Ryan, this was a particularly hard year.
“To add two names to the memorial today really touches the heart,” she says. “It makes us all really appreciative of the work and the dedication that our colleagues do. But it reminds us, very painfully, of the tragic realities of police work.”
“It’s nice to be remembered, it’s very prominent what’s happened,” Woodall says. “Daniel being the 100th officer as well, that made it a little more intense, but this year we have our two officers who have been killed in the line of duty.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
