The two young constables were shot and killed on March 16 by a 16-year-old male teenager while attending to a domestic disturbance call. The teenager shot and seriously wounded his mother, and then took his own life.
The formal service included eight members of the EPS pipe band who created an altar of drums on the stage, a practice from battlefield funerals, and a troop the colours ceremony in which a flag was laid over the drums.
Eight police pallbearers carried each constable’s Canada-flag draped coffin in, and set it gently at the front of the room, as decorated veterans and police officers saluted. The crowd stood in complete silence.
Medals
The officers’ hats, medals, and badges were gently set at the head of each coffin. Both officers were posthumously awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the Alberta Emergency Services Medical, the Long Service Medal, and the Edmonton Police Medal of Honour.The dignitaries present included Alberta Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani and her spouse, Premier Danielle Smith, Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis, Leader of the NDP and official opposition Rachel Notley, federal Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino, and Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
Sgt. Aubrey Zalaski, master of ceremonies, said Jordan and Ryan “were so much more than the badge that they carried” and were “beloved by so many in their lives outside of their squad car.”
The audience remained standing for the EPS choir singing the national anthem. City of Edmonton chaplain John Dowds led an opening prayer.
Curtis Hoople, president of the Edmonton Police Association, addressed the service, saying the loss of two of Edmonton’s almost 2,000 police officers was “senseless.”
‘Outpouring of Love’
Lakhani offered heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of both constables.“Please know that you are not alone. We are heartbroken by their loss, and holding you in our thoughts and prayers for comfort and solace. The tragic deaths of these two brave men was a harsh reminder to us all of the very real risks our heroes in uniform face in order to keep us safe,” she said.
Brodie Sampson, one of Jordan’s closest friends, said the young police officer “would have been in awe of this outpouring of love and support.”
Sampson spoke of Jordan’s childhood in Coldbrook, Nova Scotia, which included loving parents Judy and Hubert, and big sister Sheena, plus hockey, soccer, golf, and “countless escapades.”
The Maritime province was also where Jordan met his wife, the “love of his life” Annie, said Sampson.
The officer’s golf clubs and runners were on display near his casket.
“He was the epitome of integrity and always dreamed of being a police officer,” said Sampson. “I’m overwhelmed today, looking out into the sea of blue.”
Two Edmonton police sergeants, his training officer Chris Gallagher, and his direct supervisor Perry Getzinger offered anecdotes from Jordan’s training days.
“He didn’t get off to a great start here. The day photos were taken, day three, he forgot his boots and his name tag at home,” said Gallagher, who said the forgetfulness was out of character for the young constable.
The sergeant described Jordan’s fastidious attention to the police vehicle. “He would often take leftover paperwork, food, garbage he found in the car, and leave it in the appropriate member’s mailbox for them to deal with,” he said. “He was a leader right from the start, hard-working, with an OCD level of detail.”
Chaplain Roy Langer read a speech prepared by Jordan’s wife. He was remembered for his unwavering loyalty, generosity, and selflessness.
Grieving Community
Ashley Ryan, the wife of officer Ryan, also gave a eulogy. She said her husband, whom she met while both were on the same call as paramedics, was extraordinary and his dream was to be a police officer.She said she would happily remember her husband waking up, making his coffee, and “reading the news in his fuzzy slippers because he was such an old man at heart.”
She said in his life, he had been a paramedic, referee, skydiver, and firefighter, but he was most excited about becoming a father for the first time.
“We thought we had an eternity ahead of us. The 10 years we had together will have to suffice. He will live on in baby Ryan.”
His oldest brother, Garret Ryan, spoke to the crowd. He said, “How can you process something that makes so little sense?”
He said his brother “was a small-town boy from Fox Creek, Alberta, who followed his dreams and made the entire world notice.”
Chief of Police Dale McPhee said EPS was grieving the loss of two brave and talented members of the police family. He said the pain was overwhelming, but expressed gratitude for the support pouring in.
He said the community has delivered food, laid flowers, lined procession routes, and tied ribbons and posts on trees. Lights and buildings have been lit up in blue, said the police chief. He said thousands of emails and texts had been sent from the local community and around the world.
Final Radio Call
Pipe Major Dale McDonald and the EPS pipe division played Amazing Grace. An elaborate flag-folding ceremony took place near the end of the service.Eight officers carefully and meticulously folded the Canadian flags covering each coffin so they could be presented to the widows of the officers by McPhee. He hugged the officers’ wives and parents.
Police officers holding the officers’ medals and hats had tears streaming down their faces as the coffins with the fallen officers were carried out of the service by their brothers and sisters in blue. A volley of gunshots were fired in a 21-gun salute, and the arena full of officers stood at attention, offering a final salute as the coffins went by.
Police radios asked for a moment of silence, as Travis Jordan, regimental number 3703, and Brett Ryan, regimental number 4055, were booked off and marked out of service, for the final time.
“We will remember them. May they rest in peace,” said the radio call.
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