Lathaniel Best-Jordan has been a Rockford police officer since 2019.

In 2020, he was assigned to work multiple City Market protests against local police violence.

Best-Jordan assisted in multiple arrests throughout the season.

On September 4th, 2020, Best-Jordan assisted in the arrest of a protestor. The charges are still pending.

On October 21st, 2020, Best-Jordan initiated a traffic stop after a shot spotter alert came in near the area of Tenth Avenue Park. Best-Jordan responded to the scene where he found a black sedan with the driver leaned back.

Best-Jordan found this to be suspicious so he along with other RPD officers initiated a stop. He said he smelled marijuana smoke coming from the vehicle so attempted a search of the vehicle. The driver drove off which began a high speed pursuit that only ended when then Rockford police officer Christopher Pierson crashed his squad car into the barrier in the Irish Rose parking lot. Pierson suffered a broken leg and multiple cuts and other minor injuries due to the crash.

On September 4th, 2020, Lathaniel Best Jordan was one of the officers who assisted in arresting me.

After I was already in cuffs, I remember walking with two officers grabbing each of my arms. They were telling me, “It’s over. It’s over.”

But it wasn’t. They took me to the Winnebago County transport bus. Admittedly, I was yelling. I had just seen a young woman get slammed unconscious by a police officer. I was yelling, asking where she was, if she was okay, but no one gave me an answer.

Eventually, Lathaniel Best Jordan grabbed the hood of my sweatshirt and placed it over my mouth and nose. He held it there as I tried to fight it off.

He said to me, “I don’t want you to breathe.”

I was eventually able to squirm free. I repeatedly yelled out, “Best Jordan just told me he doesn’t want me to breathe!”

He grabbed my hood again and placed it over my mouth and nose.

Winnebago County C.O Kirby went to get a spit mask. They put it on me (incorrectly), and we sat on the bus for over an hour.

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In 2019, Best-Jordan made $51,982 in salary + $2,072 in overtime = $54,054 + $24,960 in health insurance + $30,497 in pension pay.

In 2020, they made $62,704 in salary + $4,880 in overtime = $67,584 + $24,960 in health insurance + $33,025 in pension pay.

In 2021, they made $75,875 in salary + $5,780 in overtime = $81,655 + $24,180 in health insurance + $34,932 in pension pay.

In 2022, they made $74,758 in salary + $23,878 in overtime = $98,636 + $24,960 in health insurance + $39,700 in pension pay.

In 2023, they made $73,022 in salary + $7,815 in overtime = $80,837 + $24,960 in health insurance + $46,059 in pension pay.

In 2024, they made $80,158 in salary + $2,793 in overtime = $82,961 + $25,428 in health insurance + $52,059 in pension pay.

If you or anyone you know has been abused, harassed or otherwise mistreated by this officer please email us with the officers name in the subject.