Hero Down: California Correctional Lt. Derrick ‘Bo’ Taylor Murdered During Las Vegas Shooting
Lt. Derrick ‘Bo’ Taylor EOW 10/01/2017.
Lt. Derrick ‘Bo’ Taylor Murdered
Las Vegas, NV – California Correctional Lt. Derrick ‘Bo’ Taylor, age 56, was murdered during the Las Vegas mass shooting on Sunday night, October 1. He was off-duty at the time.
Lt. Taylor was attending the Jason Aldean concert, part of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, with his girlfriend, Denise Cohen, according to MSN.
He was one of the victims murdered by Steven Paddock, identified as the shooter, who shot and killed himself as police officers breached the door to his Mandalay Bay Resort hotel suite. His girlfriend was also murdered.
Sierra Conservation Center Warden Joel Martinez said, “There are no words to express the feeling of loss and sadness regarding Bo’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
California DOC department spokesman Bill Sessa said, “The relationships between the officers and the inmate firefighters is much more personal. The officers take a lot of dedication to helping these inmates turn these lives around.”
Lt. Taylor served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 29 years. He had just celebrated his 56th birthday on September 25, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
He was first assigned to the Richard A. McGee Training Center located in Galt, then was assigned to Wasco State Prison in 1994, and the High Desert State Prison in 1995.
In 1997, Lt. Taylor was promoted to Sgt. and transferred to Pleasant Valley State Prison. In 2001, he was promoted to Lt. and transferred to La Cima Conservation Camp, where he served as camp commander.
Since 2014, Lt. Taylor has been assigned to the Sierra Conservation Center and Ventura Conservation Camp. At his most recent assignment at Ventura, he led a staff of nine and a group of more than 100 inmates who worked with Cal Fire, an organization responsible for fire protection and stewardship of California’s wildlands.
Warden Martinez said “We truly are a family here at SCC and Bo’s loss will be felt throughout the prison, conservation camps, and Department.”
California Correctional Lt. Derrick Taylor is survived by two sons and other family members.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of California Correctional Lt. Derrick Taylor. Godspeed, sir, we will take the watch from here. Thank you for your service.
Lt. Taylor, your life mattered.
