Victoria police Const. Ian Jordan died in hospital Wednesday after spending 30 years in a coma caused by his cruiser crashing into another police vehicle racing towards same call.
Retired Sgt. Ole Jorgensen vividly remembers the crash that sent his friend and colleague into a coma.
He was responding to a business alarm when JordanB次元官网网址檚 vehicle crossed the intersection in front of him.
B次元官网网址淚 had my foot on the brake so hard and in my head I can distinctly remember I was saying, B次元官网网址楪et out of the way Ian.B次元官网网址 But it was too late, it was a split second before I hit him that I realized he was there,B次元官网网址 Jorgensen said.
Victoria Police said the accident resulted in the creation of a B次元官网网址渢rauma team,B次元官网网址 which helps officers and staff after traumatic incidents, and also prompted a change in procedures for controlling traffic lights.
A funeral for Jordan with full police honours is being planned.
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The officer was 35 at the time of the accident and father to a 16-month-old son.
Hilary Jordan said her husbandB次元官网网址檚 death feels like deja vu.
B次元官网网址淚 feel like IB次元官网网址檓 back 30 years ago and it was just a new normal, 30 years visiting hospital every day. ItB次元官网网址檚 just really part of my life now. So it just feels quite different,B次元官网网址 she said.
B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 happy for Ian that his struggle is over and heB次元官网网址檒l be at peace.B次元官网网址
Between the Jordan family and members of the department, she said B次元官网网址淚an, for 30 years, had a visit every day.B次元官网网址
She never remarried. Their son, Mark, is now criminal lawyer in Edmonton.
Jorgensen described Ian Jordan as a close friend who loved going on calls with him and his K-9 unit.
Earlier in their shift on Sept. 22, 1987, Jordan had been pushed down a flight of stairs when responding to a call at a nightclub, Jorgensen said, so he was supposed to be heading home.
But Jordan was a keen officer and when reports of a possible break-and-enter came in, Jorgensen said he must have decided to respond to the call instead.
In the three decades that Jordan was in a coma, Jorgensen said he visited every month. He would fill Jordan in on the goings-on of the police department B次元官网网址 who got hired or fired B次元官网网址 and update him on his wife and son.
B次元官网网址淚 would just tell him what was going on in our lives. Just in case. We donB次元官网网址檛 know whether he was hearing us, so, just in case (I was) keeping him up to date,B次元官网网址 Jorgensen said.
He wasnB次元官网网址檛 alone. Police Chief Del Manak said several Victoria Police officers and staff members have visited Jordan on a regular basis, himself included.
B次元官网网址淚 found it quite humbling to be in his presence,B次元官网网址 Manak said.
B次元官网网址淟ike most police departments, itB次元官网网址檚 a really tight-knit family. ItB次元官网网址檚 a group of individuals who are committed to serving their community. This hits home the risks and dangers that our officers and staff face, who work the front lines.B次元官网网址
Manak said itB次元官网网址檚 hard to imagine what the family has experienced. Jordan made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and Manak said the department is consulting his family as it plans a memorial service.
B次元官网网址淲e want to make sure that there is closure, but that itB次元官网网址檚 done in a way that respects the sacrifice that Ian has made,B次元官网网址 Manak said.
The Canadian Press