Officer Pilot James C. Taylor and Lt. Robert L. Cormier were killed while surveying landing sites for the Republican National Convention in Dallas. They were taking off from a parking lot near the Central Patrol Division sub-station and on climb out the rotor blades struck the 523' unsupported communications tower located on top of the radio shop at the central maintenance garage.

Officer Taylor had been with the agency for 15 years and was survived by his wife and two sons.