On April 18, 1906, just after the San Francisco earthquake Ord was appointed a Special Police Officer by Mayor Eugene Schmitz and liaisoned with Major General Adolphus Greely for relief work. He wrote a long letter to his mother on the 20th regarding Schmitz' "Shoot-to-Kill" Order and some "despicable" behavior of certain soldiers of his former 22nd Regiment from the Presidio who were looting.