Just Doing His Job, HSPD Sergeant Jason Taylor Saves A Life…A Second Time

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ For the second time in his career as a High Springs police officer, Sergeant Jason Taylor saved a life. On Dec. 21, 2022, 74-year-old George Cain suffered a heart attack while working at the High Springs Mobile Food Pantry. Cain’s heart had stopped and he was not breathing. Sgt. Taylor quickly began CPR on Cain and also used a defibrillator to try and get his heart beating again until fire rescue crews arrived.

Anna James, who runs the food pantry and witnessed the incident, credited Taylor's calm focus with keeping Cain alive until he could be transported to the hospital. “What was so great about him is he was so calm, direct, directing us, and telling us we were doing good—and he was doing all the work,” said James.

While James and other at the food pantry saw Taylor’s actions as calm and methodical, underneath the surface, Taylor felt anything but calm. “I was worried,” said Taylor. “I really wanted to know how he was doing. When I did get that call that he came back, he was responding to questions, and they got his heart beat back to where it was supposed to be at, it was a good feeling.” But while being hailed as a hero, Taylor was humble, saying it was just another day doing his job.

But this was not the first time Taylor saved a life. On Nov. 19, 2019, Taylor was working at High Springs Middle School as the School Resource Officer (SRO).

During lunch at the school, a third-grade student experienced choking when food became lodged in his throat with complete blockage of his airway. Taylor was present when the student began choking, and he successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the blockage. Because of Taylor's life-saving actions in 2019, he was given a Commendation Award by the High Springs City Commission. Taylor's humility shown through at that time as he said, “I was just doing my job.”

Just days ago, High Springs Police Chief Antione Sheppard said that Taylor is slated to receive another Commendation for his actions on Dec. 21 that saved Cain’s life at the food pantry. Sheppard said that because of Taylor’s quick actions, a family will have a happy holiday rather than mourning the loss of a family member.

Taylor has been with High Springs Police Department (HSPD) since 2014. He oversees the School Resource Officer unit and is a certified K-9 handler with K-9 Justice, who is trained to detect weapons and ammunition. In addition to his regular duties, Taylor is also in charge of organizing Operation Holiday Cheer.

The annual Christmas time event brings together High Springs first responders who spend two months gathering donations of toys, clothes, gift cards and monetary donations to provide a merry Christmas to finically disadvantaged families. Each year, the week before Christmas police and fire crews lead a caravan of police cruisers and fire trucks to family homes, where in most cases, the children have no idea their Christmas is about to become much merrier than anticipated. In his usual humble manner, Taylor gives all credit to the rest of the team. But it was his initial effort that helped bring joy to 50 families this year.

While Taylor discounts all these happenings as just doing his job, George Cain, the elementary school student, their families and all the families whose lives are enriched during the holidays might disagree. To them, Taylor is doing much more than his job. He is a hero.

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