Virginia Beach First Precinct officer of the quarter recognized for competence, compassion

Officer John Jordan III
Officer John Jordan III

THE INDEPENDENT NEWS

COURTHOUSE — Police Officer John Jordan III, who works the evening shift in the First Precinct, was recognized last month as officer of the quarter by the citizens advisory committee for the precinct.

Police Capt. David Squires, commanding officer of the First Precinct, said Jordan has a taken on an impressive level of responsibility for a relatively junior officer, even training rookies. “He’s a reliable troop,” Squires said.

Jordan, a Currituck County, N.C., native, had his heart set on working in Virginia Beach after he graduated after studying criminal justice at the University of Mount Olive.

“This was the only place I applied,” he said during an interview.

He loves the variety of his work.

“It’s not the same every day,” he said. “I work with a great group of guys.”

Squires said Jordan was recognized for strong work and efforts to help communities, such as coordinating a speed enforcement effort in one neighborhood that resulted in 26 summonses and demonstrated commitment to the community.

He even alertly stopped a tow truck driver who responded to an incident, Squires said.

“When that tow truck driver arrives and smells like weed, well, that’s unusual,” Squires noted during the meeting.

If an officer doesn’t step in such a scenario?

“You’re going to miss the illegal gun he has,” Squires said.

But Jordan demonstrated that being a good officer is about more than arrests.

“Our profession has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that we cannot arrest our way out of homelessness,” Squires said.

Jordan responded earlier this year after a mom and teenage child called 911 on a cold night. 

He helped coordinate protective services, in part, because the teen was involved. But he did more than that by buying them groceries, according to his commanding officer.

“Maybe there’s an argument that that’s not policing,” Squires said. “With three years on the job, he figured out a way to solve the problem.”


© 2016 Pungo Publishing Co., LLC

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2 thoughts on “Virginia Beach First Precinct officer of the quarter recognized for competence, compassion

  1. WTG Officer Jordan! Compassion in our police officers makes a real difference. Credit must be given to Capt. Squires as well – great people come from great leaders.

  2. As a resident of the 1st precinct, I am thankful for people like officer Jordan working my area. Thanks for protecting and caring for us, all of us. We need more guys like him.

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