For two years, Gabriel "Gabe" Jordan has helped and served the people of Seymour, but they may not realize it.
As a dispatcher with the Seymour Police Department, his actions often go unseen but not unheard.
His is the comforting but strong and confident voice that answers the phone when someone dials 911. By asking questions, he assesses what is going on and remains on the line while sending an officer to take care of the situation.
"You’re the first person people talk to when they need help," Jordan said. "A lot of times, you don’t get to see the end result. You get your closure by what the officers tell you happened afterward."
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Although he loves his job, the 25-year-old Seymour native experienced a moment last year that altered his path and has now led him to move from behind the scenes of emergency response to become a first responder.
During the funeral procession for his grandfather, late Seymour City Councilman Mike Jordan, on Sept. 9, 2019, Gabe was given the opportunity to drive the lead patrol car.
"It was a very emotional moment for me, and that’s when I realized that this man right behind me served this community and I’m in a vehicle that provides a platform for me to do the very same thing," Gabe said. "That was kind of a light bulb moment for me."
Growing up watching his grandfather’s involvement in local politics as a policymaker, Gabe recognized he shared that interest in civic engagement.
After graduating Seymour High School in 2013, Gabe went to Ball State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in law, graduating in 2017.
"Whenever I graduated from Ball State, I was just looking for a job," he said.
It was his grandfather who told him SPD was hiring dispatchers.
"He knew everything that was going on in Seymour," Gabe said. "It was amazing how much he loved this place, everything about it. My grandpa set the table for politics, law, policy, things like that, but he also set a tone of servitude, community engagement."
Now, instead of pursuing a career as a lawyer, Gabe is going into law enforcement.
During a Seymour Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Sept. 24, he was sworn into duty as Seymour’s newest police officer by Mayor Matt Nicholson. His first day on the job was Sept. 27, although he continues to fill in for dispatch.
"It’s a team effort," he said.
Gabe brings a lot of good qualities to the department, including a positive attitude, good work ethic and strong roots in the community.
Although he’s eager to get out on the road, he’s definitely going to miss being a dispatcher.
"Being in dispatch has given me the front line part of it," he said. "I get to see the immediate reactions. Literally, the first thing people do is call 911. We calm them down, extract information, help and support them, tell them you’re there for them. You’ve got to let them know someone is listening and help is on the way."
Whether he’s the voice on the line or is the officer who arrives at the scene when people are at their worst moments, Gabe wants them to know he’s there to help, not to judge.
Gabe will attend the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in November and participate in a 16-week police course. After graduating in February 2021, he will return and begin three months of field training, where he will be paired with SPD officers to get more real-life experience.
"I’m so excited," he said. "I’m going to be out there with these officers who I’ve looked up to. Watching the enjoyment they get out of helping and supporting this community and seeing the smile on their faces when they come back after helping someone, I’m just very excited for it."
Like his grandfather, Gabe said he loves Seymour and looks forward to being engaged in the community as a police officer.
But being a lawyer is still in his future plans.
"I still want to be a lawyer down the road," he said. "If I put in 20 years here as a police officer, I’ll be 45. That still gives me plenty of time to pursue a career behind a desk for 20 more years after that."
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Name: Gabriel "Gabe" Jordan
Age: 25
Hometown: Seymour
Education: Graduated from Seymour High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in law from Ball State University
Occupation: Newest officer with the Seymour Police Department
Past experience: Worked as a dispatcher for SPD for the past two years.
Family: Parents, Brent and Shellie Jordan; sister, Casey Jordan; grandparents, Linda Jordan and the late Mike Jordan and Bill and Linda Riggs; girlfriend, Allison Hayes
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