East Bay Times

Police officer dies of injuries suffered in 2018 on-call crash

Jordan Wingate, 28, is 55th to be killed in the line of duty

- By Katie Lauer klauer @bayareanew­sgroup.com

An Oakland police officer who was critically injured in a crash while responding to a call six years ago died Saturday morning, authoritie­s said.

Officer Jordan Wingate succumbed to his injuries while surrounded by family and friends — including his father, retired Oakland police Capt. Randell Wingate — according to OPD spokespers­on Paul Chambers.

The 28-year-old is the 55th Oakland officer to die from injuries suffered in the line of duty, OPD said.

“Officer Wingate was a true hero who dedicated his life to making our community safer,” Chambers said in a statement Saturday, adding that he “exemplifie­d the highest ideals of law enforcemen­t.”

Wingate, who was born in February 1995 in Walnut Creek, graduated from the department's 176th police academy in May 2017. He was the valedictor­ian of his class, following three years working as an Oakland police cadet. The Oakland Police Officers

Associatio­n awarded Wingate “Rookie of the Year” in 2018.

On Aug. 13, 2018, police said he was driving to investigat­e a report of suspicious persons at the Port of Oakland.

Shortly before 3 a.m., he collided with a car that was coming out of berths 55 and 56 at the port, located in the 1900 block of Middle Harbor Road. Police said the impact caused his patrol SUV to then hit a parked big-rig truck.

After firefighte­rs extricated him from the vehicle, the then-22-year-old was hospitaliz­ed in critical condition. Wingate underwent surgery and treatment for major injuries at the time.

Wingate — described as a well-liked, hard-working officer who “always had a smile on his face” — had been assigned to the department's patrol division before he “medically retired” in March 2020.

Police said details of Wingate's services will be shared once arrangemen­ts are finalized.

 ?? LAURA A. ODA — STAFF PHOTOGRAPH­ER ?? Police Capt. Randy Wingate hugs his son, Jordan Wingate, after pinning a badge on him during a ceremony at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland in May 2017.
LAURA A. ODA — STAFF PHOTOGRAPH­ER Police Capt. Randy Wingate hugs his son, Jordan Wingate, after pinning a badge on him during a ceremony at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland in May 2017.

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