Wife recalls telling sons daddy died

GREENFIELD, Ind. (WISH) - The widow of a Greenfield Police officer killed in a hit-and-run accident says she has a lot to say to the woman driving the car that hit her husband.

In her first one-on-one interview since her husband, officer Will Phillips, was buried, widow Lesley Phillips talked about Will and how her family took the news of his death.

On the outside, the Phillips home is spruced up for fall. Neighbors and a nearby church painted the trim on the house and planted mums.

But on the inside, the hurt is still palpable.

The walls of the home display memories of a young family before tragedy struck. A plaque on the wall is inscribed with the words of a fallen officer’s final call. It was spoken over police radios during Phillips’ funeral procession.

Phillips died on Sept. 30 after a hit-and-run driver struck him while he was doing bicycle training.

Will Phillips was a father to two boys, Gavin and Bryson. He had big plans for his boys.

“He had expectations for those boys, that they were going to grow up and they were going to be young men,” Lesley said. “They knew when dad told them to do something that they would do it the first time. There wasn't a second time or a third time. If dad told them to do something they knew they had to do it.”

Lesley also recalled the night Will died. She didn’t tell the boys at first. They were asleep when the news came around 2 a.m. By 3 a.m. the police were at Will’s parents’ home telling them the bad news.

“Will's dad wanted to be here when I told the boys,” Lesley said. “My boys don't usually get up until 8, so when they came out here, the 2-year-old didn't quite understand. We've been in church for about 2 1/2 years, so Gavin knew, I told him you know, ‘There was an accident last night. Something happened to daddy. He's not going to come home anymore; he went to heaven. And he's going to be up there with God, and watch up from upstairs.’”

Watch both videos to see 24-Hour News 8 Anchor Debby Knox's full interview with Lesley.