Flags to fly half-staff for policeman killed by lightning

Gov. Jay Nixon has asked that all U. S. and Missouri flags be flown half-staff Wednesday, June 8, from sunrise to sunset in honor of Master Patrolman Jefferson Taylor, who served as a police officer for the Riverside Police Department.


Last month Taylor went to Joplin with a 12-member contingent of police officers, firefighters and public-works staff from the City of Riverside in response to the Joplin tornado disaster. On June 3, Taylor died from injuries sustained May 23 when he was struck by lightning while serving the citizens of Joplin. Taylor began his career in law enforcement in 2001 with the Webb City Police Department. He graduated from the Missouri Southern Law Enforcement Academy in May 2001.