Officer Who Responded to Joplin Tornado Dies from Lightning Injuries

Officer Jefferson "Jeff" Taylor, who was struck by lightning on Monday, May 23, while on tornado disaster response duty in Joplin, passed away at a hospital here on Friday. He was 31 years old. He worked for Riverside, a suburb on the north side of Kansas City.

June 2, 2011

Officer Jefferson "Jeff" Taylor, who was struck by lightning on Monday, May 23, while on tornado disaster response duty in Joplin, passed away at a hospital here on Friday. He was 31 years old. He worked for Riverside, a suburb on the north side of Kansas City.

"Jeff Taylor volunteered to assist with the Joplin disaster recovery," said Greg Mills, Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety for the City of Riverside. "He was a highly dedicated officer and a devoted public servant, and we will always remember his sacrifice."

Officer Taylor is the first officer in the history of Riverside Police Department to die in the line of duty, and the first emergency disaster responder to pass away as a result of the tornado in Joplin on May 22.

Source: KY3.com

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