Three mile procession

In crime fiction we get to write about police officers in many ways: diligent, committed, corrupt and violent. We imbue their personalities with kindness and compassion, hatred and envy, humour and weariness. The list of traits is endless.

Today I watched the regimental funeral honouring officer Const. Daniel Woodall of the Edmonton, AB police force who was killed in the line of duty. Woodall first worked for the Greater Manchester Police (UK) and in 2007 joined the Edmonton force.

It’s the first time I saw a Canadian flag removed from a coffin, folded and presented to a widow. Her composure was remarkable. Hundreds of police officers in dress uniform saluted the casket with gloved hands as it passed by them on the way out of the Shaw Conference Centre.

Take a moment and be grateful for the many professional members of our police forces world-wide who do their best every day and who sometime fall. ~ June Lorraine