Officers Down - Oakland

Editor's Note:  The information will be of interest to those serving in a military police function.

On March 25, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation between Assistant Chief Howard Jordan, Oakland Police Department and Detective Jamie Duigan, Chicago Police Department, about the murder of four Oakland Police Officers on March 21, 2009.

Program Date: March 25, 2009
Program Time: 1700 Hours Pacific
Topic: Officers Down - Oakland
Listen Live: www.americanheroesradio.com/officers_down_oakland.html

About the Murders
On Saturday, March 21, 2009, the suspect, who was recently released from prison, murdered four Oakland Police Department (OPD) veteran personnel. This was the deadliest occurrence in the history of OPD and one of the most significant law enforcement losses in the State of California and the nation. Acting Chief of Police Howard Jordan ordered that an independent review be conducted to understand how this happened and what can be done to prevent a future recurrence.

About Assistant Chief Howard A Jordan
Assistant Chief Howard A. Jordan is a veteran of the Oakland Police Department, having served for more than 20 years in a range of assignments including patrol, investigations, internal affairs and administration.

Managing a staff of more than 800 police officers and 370 non-sworn personnel, Chief Jordan is a consensus builder who motivates others towards better performance. He considers all possible solutions while making decisions and stays calm in crisis. Chief Jordan saw the Department through the difficult hours of March 21, 2009, when four officers were gunned down in less than 3 hours. His goal is to forge a stronger Department and healthier community under his watch.

In 2007, Chief Jordan was promoted to the newly created position of Assistant Chief, managing daily operations under then-Chief Wayne Tucker. When Chief Tucker resigned in February 2009, Chief Jordan stepped in to lead the Department as Acting Chief. He continues the crime reduction policies put in place by Chief Tucker, including geographic and community policing, and supports the changes prescribed by the NSA. In October 2009, the Mayor hired Chief Anthony Batts to replace Chief Tucker. Assistant Chief Jordan remained on as the Assistant Chief and is currently in-charge of the day to day operations of the department.

Born in the West Indies and raised in Brooklyn, NY, by a single mother with a powerful work ethic, Chief Jordan savors Oakland’s mélange of peoples and cultures, and is proud of the fact that the Oakland Police Department is the most diverse in the Bay Area. Chief Jordan has a Master’s in Public Administration from Cal State Hayward. He is a graduate of the 219th FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute in Policing. Chief Jordan serves as the president of the SF Bay Area Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement and is a member of the California Police Chiefs Association (which appointed him to the Attorney General’s Task Force to Address Human Trafficking in California) and the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Now “an average dad on the sidelines,” Chief Jordan has managed and coached youth soccer and baseball teams in Contra Costa County for many years. He volunteers for community outreach programs with Valley Bible Church in Hercules. Chief Jordan is married and has two daughters.

About the Guest Interviewer
Jamie Duignan is a detective with the Chicago Police Department, and is proud to be approaching her tenth anniversary as a law enforcement officer. Detective Duignan volunteers her time, as a member of the Chicago Police Department’s Peer Support Program, to support and counsel fellow officers in the wake of traumatic incidents. Prior to beginning her career in law enforcement, Jamie was an active civilian in Chicago’s community policing initiative. She holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Chicago, and a Master of Science in Communication from Northwestern University. Her current interests are education, leadership, morale, decision-making and supervisory communications within law enforcement. As such, she is currently administering an on-line group, “Law Enforcement Leadership and Morale,” through Linkedin. Detective Duignan is honored to be a guest on the show, along with Chief Howard Jordan and Lieutenant Raymond Foster.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
www.americanheroesradio.com/officers_down_oakland.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530