Behind the Badge
Jordan Ramirez expresses his gratitude for law enforcement and the military in a unique way.
He walks.
But the 11-year old La Puente resident doesn’t merely walk.
Jordan walks from police station to police station, wearing military fatigues and carrying a U.S. flag the entire way.
A member of the San Gabriel Valley Young Marines, Jordan also wears a backpack, carrying inside it a folded U.S. flag.
“I came up with the idea because I know I like running and walking and I wanted to show (first responders) I respect them in any way that I can,” said Jordan, who made history in 2019 by becoming the youngest person ever (10 years old) to run a marathon on all seven continents. “They are protecting us and giving us freedom.”
Jordan Ramirez, 11, walks up Birch St. in Brea escorted by Brea PD as part of his law enforcement appreciation walk.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Since Sept. 26, Jordan has covered 114 miles, making stops at 48 police departments along the way, including five Orange County agencies.
At 6 a.m. on Dec. 26, Jordan started his latest trek from the La Habra Police Department.
With a La Habra PD squad car leading the way and another one following behind, Jordan walked 4.6 miles to the Brea Police Department.
Brea PD took over and escorted Jordan another five miles to the Placentia Police Department.
When he arrived, Jordan was greeted by members of the command staff and officers at each police station.
He presents each agency with a plaque, thanking them for their service, and then poses for photos with officers.
“We appreciate people who show support for first responders and military and we’re happy to be out here and accept this plaque,” La Habra Police Capt. Adam Foster said. “In a show of support for him and his goal, we escorted him to Brea.”
When Jordan arrived at Brea PD, he was met by Sgt. Chris Wood and a group of officers who had just finished their graveyard shifts.
Escorted by La Habra patrol cars, 11-yer-old Jordan Ramirez starts his 6am law enforcement appreciation walk down Euclid St. on his way to Brea PD.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“It’s an honor and privilege for the Brea Police Department to be represented in this walk and it’s very commendable for a young man such as Jordan to take on the mission,” Wood said. “In this day and age, having the morals and the guidance to take this on … It’s commendable. Hopefully its contagious.”
Jordan has walked to virtually every agency in the San Gabriel Valley and parts of Los Angeles, said his father, Dimas Ramirez.
On Dec. 12, Jordan walked from the Fullerton Police Department to the Anaheim Police Department.
“First responders …. they are here for us,” Dimas Ramirez said. “They are not here to choose who they help. They are here for everybody. We have to let them know, especially during these times, they are not alone out there. They have our backs. We have their backs.”
When Jordan isn’t walking to honor first responders, he runs.
To be more specific, he runs marathons.
Jordan has completed eight marathons and in 2019 became the youngest person to run a marathon on all seven continents.
He’s also completed 15 half-marathons, 30 10Ks and 175 5Ks.
And Jordan isn’t the only runner in the family.
His sister Blanca, now 18, became the youngest female in the world to run a marathon in all seven continents, doing it at age 12.
Blanca and Jordan even ran a marathon in Antarctica together.
And at the ripe old age of 11, Jordan isn’t slowing down.
In January, he is planning to walk to the top of Mt. Baldy along with walks to police stations, his father said.
“We couldn’t be more excited that he chose us and he is actually out here walking to different police departments,” La Habra Police Officer Eric Esquivel said. “It shows at the end of the day, we are appreciated.”
La Habra PD Capt. Adam Foster hands Jordan Ramirez, 11, a LHPD challenge coin before starting his walk from LHPD to Brea during his tour to thank first responders.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Jordan Ramirez, 11, stops to talk to officers at La Habra PD before starting his 6am appreciation walk.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Jordan Ramirez, 11, walks to Brea PD as part of his law enforcement appreciation walk as the sun rises.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
