REGINA – Thirteen members of the Regina Police Service and two Moose Jaw officers made the journey to Edmonton Wednesday to honour Constable Daniel Woodall.
Staff Sergeant Gord Pilon has been in the force for over 35 years and has been to a number of police funerals, but never one of this magnitude.
“It’s almost like losing a member of the family, and we are an extended family,” he said.
Thousands of police officers from all over the world gathered in Edmonton to march in the procession from the Alberta legislature.
“It was, as far as you could see, members in uniform,” said Pilon.
He was shocked by the sheer number of civilians that came out to say thank you.
“One of the things that surprised me the most was the support of the community there. The entire parade route was probably 3.5 to 4 kilometers long, but there were no bare spaces,” he said. “There was always somebody along the parade route, on both sides of the street. And they were very appreciative of everything people do for them.”
Pilon said memories of the funeral will stay with him for the rest of his life.
In the history of the Regina Police Service, two officers have lost their lives on duty: Detective Charles Millar in 1935 and Constable George Lenhard in 1933.