A 28-year-old motorcycle officer killed in a collision with a sport utility vehicle one week ago was remembered at a memorial service Tuesday as a "traffic guy" devoted to improving road safety in his hometown.
The service for 28-year-old Jordan Corder, son of a retired Covina officer, was at a Pomona church where rows of police vehicles representing several law enforcement agencies were parked as officers gathered in honor of their colleague. The service was followed by a procession through downtown Covina, where he was raised, before arriving at the burial site.
The route allowed residents of the community about 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles to view the procession for the Charter Oak High School graduate.
[LA GALLERY] Mourners Remember Covina Police Officer Jordan Corder
"He was ingrained in the community," said Sgt. Gregg Peterson, of the Covina Police Department, who remembered Corder as a "traffic guy" determined to do what he could to prevent drunken driving. "(The procession will) take Jordan back home where he grew up so people from the community who can't attend the services have an opportunity to say goodbye to him."
Corder was recognized several times by Mother's Against Drunk Driving for his work to improve traffic safety, Peterson said. He was inspired as a student by a police program presented at his high school that address drunken driving.
"It goes back to his days as a student," Peterson said. "He was able to grasp that information and how damaging people under the influence of alcohol can be when they're in a motor vehicle.
"He took that with him from the time he was 17 all the way until he was 28."
The crash that killed the seven-year veteran of the Covina Police Department occurred Sept. 30 near Citrus and Puente avenues.
Corder might have been trying to make a traffic stop of another motorcyclist when he was hit by the SUV driver attempting to make a left turn, according to police. Video from the camera on the motorcycle so far showed no data and was being sent to a lab for further review. Police are also analyzing information from other cameras in the area to see whether Corder was trying to make a traffic stop in the moments prior to the crash.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Corder is the second officer to die while on duty for the Covina Police Department. In 2006, Sgt. Scott Hanson was killed in a traffic collision about a block away from Tuesday’s crash.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. CHP and the district attorney will determine whether any charges will be filed.
The 75-year-old SUV driver suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Drivers can expect closures on the westbound 10 Freeway in the West Covina and Pomona areas during the procession. The procession is expected to take up to 90 minutes.
