Police procession honours Victoria officer Const. Ian Jordan

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WATCH: It’s been decades since anyone heard his voice or saw him smile. In fact, most of the hundreds who lined the streets of Victoria Thursday afternoon never knew Const. Ian Jordan. The popular Victoria police officer died last week after spending the last 30 years in a coma. April Lawrence reports. 

Hundreds of first responders from Canada and the United States marched through downtown Victoria to pay tribute to Const. Ian Jordan, who spent more than 30 years in an unresponsive state after his police cruiser collided with another cruiser in 1987.

Onlookers watched as the procession went from the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on Caledonia Avenue to Christ Church Cathedral for the 2 p.m. funeral.

Ian Jordan Funderal Procession

Ian Jordan Funderal Procession

Duration 26s

Insp. Fred Mills, who has retired from the Victoria Police Department, said he knew Jordan and it was a tough day for everybody.

“Ian was a conscientious young officer. Policing was his life along with his family,” Mills said.

Jordan’s full departmental funeral began at 2 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral. Eight pallbearers carried Jordan’s coffin, which was draped with a flag, into the church.

Mark Jordan, who was 16-months-old at the time of the crash, gave a eulogy as did Victoria Police Chief Del Manak. Mark, 32, thanked his mother, Hilary, for her love and support for their family during his eulogy. He also thanked the nurses and doctors at the Glengarry extended care hospital where Jordan had been cared for since 2003.

“I aspire to live my life in a way that will touch as many lives as he did,” Jordan said.

Manak said after just three years with VicPD, Jordan was such an excellent officer there was talk of him becoming police chief one day.

“There were suspects and people he arrested who would thank him as he was putting handcuffs on them, he just had that type of engaging personality,” Manak said.

Jordan died in hospital on April 11 at age 66 after spending more than 30 years in care after being seriously injured in a crash with another VicPD car while responding in his police car to a potential break and enter on Fort Street.

The two vehicles collided at the intersection of Douglas and Fisgard streets.

After the collision, Victoria police created a ?trauma team,? which helps officers and staff who have experienced traumatic incidents. There was also a change in procedures for controlling traffic lights.

During the procession for Victoria Police Const. Ian Jordan, a flag was draped between two fire trucks on Quadra Street.

During the procession for Victoria Police Const. Ian Jordan, a flag was draped between two fire trucks on Quadra Street.

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