A procession of officers from across Canada and the United States made its way down a Victoria Street ahead of a funeral for Constable Ian Jordan on Thursday.
Jordan, who was in a coma for 30 years, died last week.
Victoria Police Chief Del Manak said it’s an emotional day for everyone and that he hopes this will provide closure for Jordan’s family and his fellow officers.
“We are really finding a way to remember Constable Ian Jordan and really to honour him and to make sure his family is proud and recognizes he was part of a family, part of the Victoria Police Department and that we recognize that he paid the ultimate price,” Manak said.
The marching contingent made its way east on Caledonia Avenue and then south on Quadra Street before meeting at Christ Church Cathedral, for the full departmental funeral.
Jordan was involved in a car crash while responding to a possible break-and-enter in 1987.
WATCH: Archive video shows the Victoria crash scene from 1987
Jordan, who was 35 at the time, was supposed to be on his way home when the call came into headquarters.
As officers rushed to the scene, Jordan’s vehicle crashed into another Victoria police car at the intersection of Douglas and Fisgard streets.
That car was carrying officer Ole Jorgensen, who suffered a serious injury in the crash.
The incident resulted in changes to traffic light control along Douglas Street and the creation of the police department’s Criminal Incident Stress Management (CISM) team, which assists officers and staff after traumatic events.
Jorgensen would go on to head up a trauma assistance team for the Victoria police, which was made up of officers who had encountered traumatic incidents and recovered.
WATCH: The widow of a Victoria police officer who was in a coma for 30 years after an on-duty accident is talking to Global News after her husband passed away. Kylie Stanton has the story.
Jordan’s widow, Hilary, told Global News her husband’s passing provided “relief for him, and closure for him.”
During his three decades in hospital, Hilary was beside the fallen officer virtually every day.
Their son Mark was only 16 months old at the time of the crash.
Hilary recalls changing his diapers in the hallways of Victoria General Hospital in the days following the crash.
Now in his 30s, Mark is a criminal lawyer.
“He understands the respect and admiration for his dad.”
— With files from Jesse Ferreras, Jon Azpiri and Kylie Stanton
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