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December 12, 2006

Colorado Springs police officer recalled for dedication to getting drunks off roads

Bagpipes wailed Monday for Ken Jordan, the Colorado Springs police officer gunned down last week while making a drunken-driving stop.

Some friends wept in memory of Jordan at a funeral service, while others celebrated the joy of knowing the strapping officer who was on a mission to get drunks off Colorado highways.

"I came to offer my gratitude to my little brother," said Jordan's sister, Sue Wertz, who told family stories of her younger brother's abundant life lived in only 32 years but packed with outdoor adventures and cherished friends.

"I love you, little brother," she said, setting a tone of love, sacrifice and duty for the eulogies to follow.

photo of slain Colorado Springs Police Officer Kenneth C. Jordan
AP PHOTO/ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
MATT MCCLAIN
A photo of slain Colorado Springs
Police Officer Kenneth C. Jordan, 32,
is carried in front of the hearse
bearing his coffin after his
memorial service Monday.

A specialist in arresting DUI drivers, Jordan was shot late Dec. 4 when he and two other officers prepared to take Marco Lee, 25, into custody after Lee was stopped in southeastern Colorado Springs.

Jordan was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital less than an hour later.

Lee, who was wounded in the gunfight, was charged Friday with first- degree murder, which carries a penalty of life in prison or death.

At Monday's funeral service, Interim Police Chief Dave Felice described Jordan as "a tireless, dedicated law-enforcement professional who gave his life for the city of Colorado Springs."

With one look at Jordan's beaming smile and crisp appearance, "You could look at his face and know he was born to be a cop," Felice said.

The service was conducted with the snap and polish of salutes and muffled marching. The shared memories expressed sorrow and pride in a friend whose loss has left a hole in the heart.

"I told you I never wanted to date a cop," girlfriend Heidi Anderson said, telling how Jordan won her over with visits to Memorial Hospital, where she works.

On Dec. 5 at the hospital, friends and fellow officers spilled into the hallway until 12:18 a.m., when he was pronounced dead.

Anderson told how they had once gotten so involved on a tropical island stopover that they missed the departure of their cruise ship, arriving at the dock to wave as it sailed away.

She kissed his flag-draped coffin to say goodbye.

Denver police officer Brock Ellerman and Colorado Springs police officer Jason Falette, both longtime friends, praised Jordan for his exemplary life that made a difference in their commitments to public service.

motorcycle escort hearse carrying officer ken jordan
AP PHOTO/ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
DENNIS SCHROEDER
Motorcycle officers escort the hearse
carrying Kenneth C. Jordan's body
and a motorcade of hundreds of
police cars following the memorial service
for the fallen Colorado Springs
police officer.

More than 5,000 police officers and civilians packed the sanctuary at New Life Church for the funeral service, the officers' uniforms the blues of the Colorado sky: azure blue of morning, slate-gray of a gathering storm and midnight blue of the night.

"I have been to too many events like this," said Lt. Chris Schoeneck, of the Brighton Police Department. "It always reinforces the fact that officers are vulnerable."

Jordan's death is the second in the line of duty this year for the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Detective Jared Jensen was shot in the head Feb. 22 while trying to arrest Jereme Lambeth, who was wanted for allegedly stabbing his sister. Lambeth is in jail awaiting trial.

Until Jensen's death, a Colorado Springs police officer had not died in the line of duty since 1982.

After Jordan's service, about 200 police vehicles bearing the insignia of departments from across Colorado and adjacent states formed a motorcade on Interstate 25 from the north-side church to the downtown police headquarters.

Chief Daniel Oates, of the Aurora Police Department, said all the officers gathered for the service could identify with Jordan.

"One thing that every police officer has done a thousand times is stop a car, and we're told it's one of the riskiest things you can do," Oates said. "It's a classic tragedy. We all feel it just as easily could have been one of us."

Joe Garner, Rocky Mountain News

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