Officer added to Wall of Sacrifice
Family and friends of Const. Ian Jordan watched with pride Friday as his name was added to the Victoria Police Department’s Wall of Sacrifice, as one of six officers who died in the line of duty.
He was 35 and driving on Fisgard Street to a reported early-morning break-in on Sept. 22, 1987 when he collided with another police cruiser on Douglas Street.
The crash left Jordan a paraplegic with a traumatic brain injury, and he never regained consciousness before dying this year at the age of 66.
“From today onwards, everyone who passes here will know that Ian was a member of the Victoria Police Department and that he made the ultimate sacrifice in the service to his community,” said Victoria Police Chief Del Manak.
Manak said besides Jordan’s name being added to a memorial cairn outside the department’s front door, the recognition includes a room in his honour. “The room that we chose to dedicate is the place where we interview every person that wants to join the Victoria Police Department, either as a police officer or as a civilian employee.”
Mark, Ian’s 32-year-old son and a lawyer in Edmonton, said that carries a lot of meaning for him. “It means a lot to my mother and I that all recruits now will remember the sacrifice that my father made here.”
Ian’s wife, Hillary, said the department has made it clear that they are part of the police network.
“Even though Ian has passed, we are still members of this wonderful family.”
Manak said Ian was “smart, energetic, fair and compassionate.”
“He had a way about him, talking to people and garnering their respect,” he said. “As I’ve said before, even the criminals respected Ian. There are countless examples of criminals thanking Ian after he had arrested them.”