Edmonton bids farewell to 2 slain police officers at regimental ...

A regimental funeral for constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan got underway at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday afternoon, 11 days after the two police officers were killed in the line of duty.

The funeral at the Edmonton Oilers’ hockey arena started shortly before 1:30 p.m. In addition to the officers’ loved ones, thousands of police officers and other first responders were among the crowd inside the building.

A number of dignitaries, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis, Opposition Leader Rachel Notley, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino were also in attendance.

Jordan and Ryan’s caskets were draped in Canadian flags as they were carried past attendees to the main stage.

The funeral was closed to the public but Edmontonians were invited to watch the funeral on a big screen set up outside the arena.

Edmontonians also took the opportunity to honour the lives of constables Jordan and Ryan and give thanks for their service ahead of the regimental funeral.

As Jordan and Ryan’s bodies were being transported from the Alberta legislature to Rogers Place, where the funeral is being held, Edmontonians lined the procession route to pay their respects and say their goodbyes.

Hundreds of police officers as well as paramedics and other first responders also took part in the two-and-a-half-kilometre-long procession.

Uniformed officers marched alongside two hearses carrying Jordan and Ryan’s bodies as drums and bagpipes were played.

A formation of hundreds of officers in blue uniforms walked in unison as part of the procession, creating a visually stirring display of unity and solidarity.

Among those taking part in the procession were police officers from across the country and even some from New York.

Jordan, 35, and Ryan, 30, were responding to a call at an apartment complex in Edmonton’s Inglewood neighbourhood on March 16 when they were shot and killed by a 16-year-old male.

Investigators believe the officers were shot before they had a chance to even pull out their guns. The suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while his mother remains in hospital after sustaining injuries when she tried to wrestle the gun away from her son.

READ MORE: Edmonton police regimental funeral and procession will include road closures, transit detours

“The Edmonton Police Service  has been marked by a really unthinkable and horrific tragedy as two of our members have died in the line of duty,” EPS Chief Dale McFee said on the day of the shootings.

On Sunday afternoon, the Ryan and Jordan families released statements thanking the community for its support while they grieve.

“Grieving the sudden loss of a beloved member of our family is ineffable,” the Ryan family said. “He was a multi-talented individual, dedicated friend, respected colleague, active community member and volunteer and compassionate first responder whose calling was to help those in need.”

Before becoming an EPS officer five-and-a-half years ago, Ryan had been a paramedic. His wife is expecting their first child.

Jordan grew up in Nova Scotia but had been with the EPS for eight-and-a-half years.

“Alberta may have called to his heart, but the East Coast ran through his veins. His family roots in Nova Scotia have deep ties to the province filled with friends, family and loved ones,” the Jordan family wrote.

“He was passionate about giving back to his communities, and his willingness to help was limitless — all the makings of a great police officer and an even greater human being.”

The funeral procession began at 11:45 a.m. at the Alberta legislature and started to make its way to Rogers Place, where the service began shortly before 1:30 p.m.

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The procession and funeral are being broadcast live on all Global TV stations in Alberta and is also being livestreamed on http://www.globalnews.ca.

Live radio coverage of the event can also be heard on 630 CHED.

More to come…

–With files from The Canadian Press and Global News’ Adam Toy and Karen Bartko