Regimental funeral to honour fallen Edmonton police officers
"We stand with their wives, their mothers, their fathers, their grandparents, their siblings, their entire community for family and friends to mourn the tragedy together"
Published Mar 27, 2023 • Last updated 37 minutes ago • 8 minute read
Hearses carrying the bodies of EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan get ready to leave the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. The two officers were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Hearses carrying the bodies of EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan get ready to leave the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. The two officers were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Hearses carrying the bodies of EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan get ready to leave the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. The two officers were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Greg Southam
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Greg Southam-Postmedia Greg Southam
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
A hearse carrying the body of EPS officer, constable Travis Jordan leaves the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
People line the street as police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, who were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Edmonton firefighters form a line open the street as police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, who were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
A hearse carrying the body of EPS officer, constable Brett Ryan leaves the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
A hearse carrying the body of EPS officer, constable Brett Ryan leaves the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
People watch the regimental funeral in Ice District Plaza on March 27, 2023. The service was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
People watch the regimental funeral in Ice District Plaza on March 27, 2023. The service was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
People watch the regimental funeral in Ice District Plaza on March 27, 2023. The service was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
The lives and service of Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty are being honoured at a regimental funeral at Rogers Place this afternoon.
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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authorsThe constables, both in their 30s, were gunned down just before 1 a.m. on March 16 when they responded to a family violence call at the Baywood Park apartment complex in Inglewood. The 16-year-old shooter Postmedia has identified as Roman Shewchuk also shot his mother during a struggle over the weapon before killing himself.
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Access to Rogers Place for the funeral will be limited to family, special guests, EPS members and supporters from within law enforcement, emergency services, and the military. More than 1,200 members of EPS are expected to attend the funeral. It is the first regimental funeral for a city police officer to take place since 2015, when Const. Daniel Woodall was shot and killed during an arrest.
3:43 p.m.Final book-off for the constables is observed with a moment of silence over the police radio. “Please book off constables Travis Jordan and Constable Brett Ryan 10-2 , out of service, for the final time.”
“We will remember them.”
3:22 p.m.A moment of silence is observed followed by the folding of the Canadian flags that drape the caskets for Const. Travis Jordan and Const. Brett Ryan and are presented to the wives of the fallen constables and their families by EPS Chief Dale McFee and the caskets carried out of the service to a 21-gun salute.
3:11 p.m.Chaplain Roy Langer delivers a message to the families of the fallen officers saying that the grief the family feels will come in waves but “even though we walk through the Valley of the shadow of death, thousands of people are lifting you up.”
“Brother and sisters in blue we’ve lost two of our brothers and we thank you for showing up in such huge numbers today,” said Langer. “It’s a testament of what you’re all about. Down but not out.”
2:54 p.m.Edmonton Police Services Chief Dale McFee speaks on behalf of EPS on their mourning of the deaths of Const. Jordan and Ryan. EPS “grieves the loss of these two brave and talented members of our family,” said chief McFee. “We stand with their wives, their mothers, their fathers, their grandparents, their siblings, their entire community for family and friends to mourn the tragedy together.”
“As chief I have seen it in every single face I encounter since that early morning call and now I see it on all of us,” said McFee. “We carry Travis and Brett and we never let them go.
2:44 p.m.Ashley Ryan brother Garett give the eulogy for Const. Brett Ryan.
Ashley, a paramedic, says she and Brett met on a call. He slipped on ice in front of her: “literally falling head over heels."
— Jonny Wakefield (@jonnywakefield) March 27, 2023Chaplain Roy Langer, speaks on behalf of Travis Jordan’s wife Annie.
The eulogy for Travis Jordan is given by long time friend Brody Sampson. Travis Jordan’s training sergeant Sgt Chris Gallagher and Sgt. Perry Getzinger speak in memory of Const. Jordan sharing anecdotes and stories of his time with the EPS.
Sgt. Chris Gallagher (right), Travis Jordan's training sergeant, starts with a funny story. Apparently, in the photo of Jordan that's been shared everywhere, he is missing his name tag. He also forgot his boots that day. pic.twitter.com/qejHUp4NEr
— Jonny Wakefield (@jonnywakefield) March 27, 2023Lieutenant Governor, Salma Lakhani speaks next saying constables Ryan and Jordan were able “to connect with those who were in trouble or experiencing trauma, always taking time to let people know they were heard and understood. They treated everyone they met with empathy, warmth and compassion.”
Lakhani: Ryan and Jordan were able “to connect with those who were in trouble or experiencing trauma, always taking the time to let people know they were heard and understood. They treated everyone they met with empathy, warmth and compassion.”
— Jonny Wakefield (@jonnywakefield) March 27, 2023Police association president Curtis Hoople says this moment is “senseless,” and that the loss of constables Ryan and Jordan is harder because it cannot be explained.
Hoople said Ryan and Jordan were “damn good cop.”
“They were the best of us. We all want to find meaning in their loss.”
“Senseless is a word that fits this moment,” he says. Says loss that cannot be explained is especially hard. Said Ryan and Jordan were "damn good cops." "They were both the best of us. We all want to find meaning in their loss."
— Jonny Wakefield (@jonnywakefield) March 27, 2023The funeral service for contables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan began with the Edmonton Police Services pipe band forming an altar out of their drums. Emcee EPS Sgt. Aubrey Zalaski explains that this practice has roots in battlefield funerals. When an actual altar was not available. This was followed by the caskets being carried in by members of the Edmonton Police Service and the singing of the National anthem and EPS Champlain John Dowds giving the opening prayer.
Each officer's hat is placed on the caskets, along with their medals and badges. Zalaski says each officer has received a number of posthumous awards, including the Police Exemplary Service Metal, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal and the EPS Medal of Honour.
— Jonny Wakefield (@jonnywakefield) March 27, 2023 Hearses carrying the bodies of EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan get ready to leave the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. The two officers were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Hearses carrying the bodies of EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan get ready to leave the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. The two officers were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Hearses carrying the bodies of EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan get ready to leave the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. The two officers were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Greg Southam
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Greg Southam-Postmedia Greg Southam
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
A hearse carrying the body of EPS officer, constable Travis Jordan leaves the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
People line the street as police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, who were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Edmonton firefighters form a line open the street as police officers march from the Alberta Legislature to Rogers Place for the regimental funeral for two EPS officers, constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, who were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
A hearse carrying the body of EPS officer, constable Brett Ryan leaves the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
A hearse carrying the body of EPS officer, constable Brett Ryan leaves the Alberta Legislature on route to Rogers Place for a regimental funeral. Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2023. Taken on Monday, March 27, 2023 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
People watch the regimental funeral in Ice District Plaza on March 27, 2023. The service was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
Police and Peace officers march down 104 Ave In Edmonton and up 102 Street into Rogers Place on March 27, 2023. The regimental funeral was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
People watch the regimental funeral in Ice District Plaza on March 27, 2023. The service was for Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan killed in the line of duty. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
