FULL INTERVIEW: Claire Woodall sits down with Global’s Kendra Slugoski to talk about her husband, fallen EPS Const. Daniel Woodall, and thank the public for its support.
EDMONTON — It’s been one week since her husband was killed in the line of duty. Just seven days ago, Claire Woodall was going about her day as if it was any other. But, on the night of June 8, her world changed forever.
“It was very strange because I just kept on getting messages from people,” Claire said.
She knew there was some kind of incident involving police going on, but she couldn’t get a hold of Daniel.
“If his phone is off and he’s not calling me I’m going to get really, really mad,” she remembers thinking.
But then Claire was struck by the feeling that her husband was involved. She had already put their two boys to bed and was sitting alone in the bedroom when officers arrived at her door.
“I just saw four cars pull up and two plain clothes… and I just knew, I just knew,” she says, her voice breaking.
“I knew it was him.”
Edmonton police Const. Daniel Woodall was fatally shot outside a home in the city’s west end last Monday night. He was one of several officers on scene to make an arrest. The man inside the home, 42-year-old Norman Raddatz, fired more than 50 shots at police, killing Woodall and wounding Sgt. Jason Harley. Raddatz’s body was later found inside the home which burned to the ground.
“It’s up and down,” says Claire. “I don’t really think I’ve got quite enough time to really think about things. I cling on to the fact that Dan was doing everything that he loved doing.”
“He loved being a police officer. It was all he ever wanted to do.”
In the moments after finding out, Claire says the strangest things came to mind: that her sons were asleep and she couldn’t wake them and how difficult it must have been for the officers to break the news to her.
“It was all a blur from there. If they’d have come five minutes later, I would have found out through other channels.”
READ MORE: Who was fallen Edmonton police Const. Daniel Woodall?
But, she says the public response has been incredibly positive.
WATCH: Claire Woodall spoke with Global News about how her husband tried to make the world a better place and the legacy he leaves for their children. Reid Fiest reports.
READ MORE: ‘He gave the ultimate sacrifice’: Edmontonians attend public visitation for Const. Woodall
Claire says people have come up to her in the street to hug her. Her family and Dan’s drove through the city and saw all the blue ribbons once they arrived from Manchester.
“Thank you doesn’t seem enough,” she says.
The amount of love the family has felt from Edmontonians is the reason the family made Sunday’s visitation – and this week’s regimental funeral – public.
“Wednesday is not for me; it’s for Edmonton, it’s for Manchester, it’s for anyone around the world that does know about this that does feel about this.”
She says the funeral is a way to pay her respects and say thank you to Edmonton.
“I just don’t know what to say to make people understand how grateful myself and my boys are for the way everyone’s supported me.”
READ MORE: Regimental funeral for Const. Woodall to be held Wednesday
Claire describes six-year-old Gabe as “a mini Daniel in every way, shape and form.” He went back to school and wanted to tell people about his dad.
“My eldest son very much understands,” she says. “He wanted to tell people that his dad had died.
“He was writing messages on the side walk that said ‘I love my daddy’ so he could see it in heaven.”
She told Gabe and Callen about their father’s death Tuesday morning.
“My youngest is four. He’s not quite there yet. He just knows that his dad is not around.”
READ MORE: How to show your support for Woodall family, Edmonton police
For Claire, the last seven days have been a flurry of visitors, planning, and phone calls. And even though she knows how much it will hurt, she’s looking forward to the calm after the storm, when she will be alone with her sons, and can begin to live her new normal.
“This will happen, the funeral will happen, people will remember, but then people will go on with their lives and I will still be the widow of Const. Woodall and it’s a scary thought… but I know I can do it because I know he would want me to do it.”
“My sons know he is a hero,” she says.
“They were his boys… I have Daniel through two boys. They are the living image of him. So he’ll never leave me.”
WATCH: The wife of Const. Daniel Woodall is speaking out for the first time since her husband was killed in the line of duty. Kendra Slugoski spoke with her today.
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