SAN LEANDRO — Two days after his 104th birthday, retired Oakland police Officer Toft Jessen was celebrated Thursday by dozens of Oakland law enforcement officials previous and current, together with many others who lauded him as “an impressive individual” whose achievements are inspirational.
Jessen, a World Struggle II veteran who throughout his practically 37-year Oakland police profession survived an ambush the place he and one other officer have been wounded, was honored at Harry’s Hofbrau throughout a weekly gathering of retired and lively responsibility Oakland officers and others generally known as the Thursday Membership.
Jessen, who lives in southern Alameda County, makes use of a walker and appears youthful than his age. He sat on the head of an extended lunch desk the place lots of these in attendance took a couple of minutes to talk with him.
Jessen mentioned he didn’t actually have a method for dwelling so lengthy, besides that he didn’t drink alcohol in abundance and solely smoked cigars. He mentioned being honored was “a big surprise” that felt “very good,” particularly since he thinks of himself “as just another person.”
These in attendance, which included inspectors with the Alameda County District Lawyer’s Workplace, Alameda County Sheriff’s Workplace deputies and different regulation enforcement companies, imagine in any other case.
Oakland police Chief Floyd Mitchell mentioned the lunch “is an amazing testament to the fortitude of the men and women of the Oakland Police Department to have one of our own retirees still celebrated and loved by the people he worked with.”
“He’s absolutely an inspiration,” Mitchell mentioned.
Juan Gonzalez, the mayor of San Leandro, the place Jessen was born and grew up, mentioned he loved the chance “to honor one of our home grown.”
“When the community comes together to celebrate, it’s really a beautiful thing,” Gonzalez mentioned. He mentioned when an individual is acknowledged “for a life well lived and doing it the right way, it’s impressive.”
Jessen, who’s presumably the oldest dwelling retired regulation enforcement officer wherever within the nation, was born in San Leandro on April 15, 1921. A proficient baseball participant, he performed one yr as an outfielder for the New York Yankees minor league staff in Denver in 1941 earlier than being drafted into the U.S. Military on April 21, 1943.
Throughout his navy service, he participated within the D-Day landings in France on June 6, 1944. He was 23 and was a part of the U.S. Military glider squadron executing advance missions for Allied troops touchdown on the Normandy coast. He survived what turned generally known as “the longest day” and continued his service all through the struggle.
104-year-old retired Oakland police officer Toft Jessen arrives for his party at Harry’s Hofbrau in San Leandro, Calif., Tuesday, April 17, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
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104-year-old retired Oakland police officer Toft Jessen arrives for his party at Harry’s Hofbrau in San Leandro, Calif., Tuesday, April 17, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
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In recognition of his heroism, Jessen was awarded France’s highest distinction, the Legion of Honor, by Consul Normal Frédéric Jung on September 18, 2023, forward of the eightieth anniversary of D-Day. The celebrated award honors people who made distinctive contributions to France, together with those that risked their lives to assist liberate the nation throughout WWII.
Following his navy service, he turned an Oakland police officer in October 1947 and retired in August 1984 serving his whole profession within the patrol division the place he helped practice and mentor many officers. A few of these in attendance Thursday have been retired Oakland officers of their 80s and 90s who labored with him.
In April 1970, Jessen and one other officer have been shot a number of occasions once they have been ambushed within the space of Edes and Cary avenues in East Oakland whereas in a marked prisoner transport car by some males linked to a radical group. After a restoration interval of many months, he returned to full responsibility, an indication of his bravery and dedication, officers mentioned.
Retired Oakland police Officer Tim Sanchez, an organizer of the celebratory luncheon, mentioned Jessen “is definitely an inspiration considering he was shot on duty, persevered and came back. It’s pretty awesome.” He mentioned he believes Jessen’s legacy will likely be that “he dedicated his life to public service. You hold that in high regard and high esteem and hope you can replicate.” As youthful officers “have discovered who he is, they also hold him in high esteem and the ultimate respect,” Sanchez mentioned.
Moreover accolades from these current, the Thursday Membership offered Jessen with a commemorative baseball bat along with his title engraved on it. The New York Yankees entrance workplace additionally despatched him a congratulatory letter, and Yankees’ supervisor, Aaron Boone, produced a quick video with him stating that to the perfect of his information Jessen is the oldest dwelling participant to signal a contract with the Yankees.
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