Wife Of Officer Killed In Dorner Shootout Offers Advice For Grieving Families

REDLANDS (CBSLA.com) — The widow of one of the officers killed in the line of duty three years ago spoke Monday, offering insight into how she dealt with the loss of her husband.

The recent shooting attacks against police in Baton Rouge and Dallas have caused Gina Crain to think about new families dealing with sudden and violent loss.

Her husband, Riverside Police Officer Michael Crain, was killed in an ambush by Christopher Dorner, in 2013.

"They're going to have to go through a lot of memorial services. And it seems like it's never ending. And you want to be able to stop that at a certain point and let your kids heal," she said.

When her husband died, he left behind two kids, one of which was only 4.

Crain says it's been important to keep things normal, leaning on friends and family to get her children to all of their activities.

Days after her husband's funeral, his uniform and his work bag were prominently displayed in the living room.

"His pictures are still throughout my house. His things are still throughout my house," she said.

Three years ago, she told CBS2 she slept on the couch because it was too difficult to be in the bedroom they shared.

Today, she said:

"I never we back up to the bedroom. I've not been in there much at all. I stay in a room that's downstairs away from that. Bought a new bed. I just couldn't do it."

Crain has found love again in a new relationship and is preparing to move into a new home.