John Jordan, 91, Former Darien Police Chief

Flags were at half-staff Monday at the Darien Police Department in honor of former Police Chief John W. Jordan. An obituary from Edward Lawrence Funeral Home:

John W. Jordan passed away on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 in Darien. Born on June 19, 1923 in Darien, he was the son of the late William J. and Mary Loretta (Lord) Jordan. He was 91.

Chief Jordan was a lifelong resident of Darien and parishioner of St. John R.C. Church. He graduated from Darien High School and Northwestern University. Prior to joining the Darien Police Department, Chief Jordan served in the U.S. Army as a Line Sergeant during World War II under General Patton.

He received basic infantry training at Fort McClellan in Alabama, subsequently being assigned to the 287th Combat Engineers where he received further training at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Subsequent to that training, he was assigned to the European Theatre of Operations where his unit was assigned to the 3rd U.S. Army. He received three Battle Stars for action seen in Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.

Chief Jordan joined the Darien Police Department on Feb. 1, 1950, sworn in by former Chief Edward Mugavero. In 1953 he was assigned to the Detective Bureau. He attended the F.B.I. National Academy in Washington D.C. graduating with the 59th Session in 1957. He was promoted to sergeant in 1959, lieutenant in 1964 and captain in 1967.

On March 29, 1971, he was awarded the Gold Shield Award from the Fairfield County Detective Conference for the capture of an armed gunman who had held a Darien couple hostage in their home for several hours.

On March 3, 1971, he was named acting chief of police; on July 1, 1971, the Darien Police Commission appointed him as Darien’s sixth chief of police, a position held until his retirement on June 19, 1988.

Chief Jordan was a past president of the F.B.I. National Academy Associates, Connecticut Chapter; past president of the Fairfield County Chiefs of Police Association; past president of the International Association of Identification, Connecticut Chapter; past president of the Police Association of Connecticut (PAC); and past Chairman of the Fairfield County Criminal Justice Supervisory Board. In April of 1985, Chief Jordan received the Law Enforcement Award from the Sons of the American Revolution in recognition of his exemplary law enforcement career.

Chief Jordan is survived by his one sister, Beatrice Czako of Darien; nieces and nephews, William J. Jordan of Monroe, CT; Janet J. Reed of Darien; Jacquelyn Lopiano of Darien; John W. Jordan of Sherman, CT; David Czako of Alaska; Patricia Khristiansen of Maine; Carolyn Nardozza of Georgia; Jacquelyn Kulik of Massachusetts and several great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Edith Jordan of Sherman.

He was predeceased by his wife Helen W. Jordan in 2011; a sister, Mildred Torok and a brother, William Jordan.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Rd., Darien. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John Roman Catholic Church, 1986 Post Rd., Darien on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Darien Police Association, P. O. Box 53, Darien, CT 06820 or St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Rd., Darien, CT 06820.