Riverside Officer Injured In Joplin

The City of Riverside, reacting to a request from the City of Joplin, sent a contingent of City workers to assist in rescue and recovery efforts at the scene of the tornado in Joplin.  Riverside personnel sent included:  6 Public Works staff, 2 firefighters and 4 police officers.  

One of the officers, Jeff Taylor, a 31 year old man who has been with the department since 2005, was injured while performing his assigned duties associated with the rescue and recovery efforts.  Co-workers on the scene said he had just finished driving a fire commander back to the command post on a Riverside Police ATV and was standing next to the ATV when lightning struck the ground beside him, sending the electrical charge through the officer.  He is in critical condition and is being treated at a Springfield area hospital for burns and other injuries.  His family and members of the Riverside Police Department are at his side.

An account to assist Officer Taylor and his family has also been set up:

Taylor Benefit Account
K.C. Police Credit Union
2800 East 14th Street
Kansas City, MO 64127
Phone: (816) 504-2800 or toll-free 800-338-8567
www.kcpcu.org

Media: Media with inquiries are asked to contact Meredith Hauck, Riverside Public Information Officer, at 816-739-3676 or by mhauck [at] riversidemo [dot] com (email).