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Corrections officer killed in Ky. factory collapse identified

Robert Daniel was killed as he attempted to move a group of work release inmates out of harm’s way

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Screengrab/WHAS11

By Sarah Sinning

MAYFIELD, Ky. — The corrections officer killed in the candle factory collapse on Friday night has been identified. According to a Sunday Facebook post from the Graves County Jail, Robert Daniel is the officer who lost his life as he was supervising seven work release inmates at the Mayfield Consumer Products facility when it was hit by a devastating tornado.

https://www.facebook.com/gravescountyjailandrccenter/posts/4595629800527502

In an emotional Monday morning post, Jailer George Workman provided additional detail about Daniel’s death. Acknowledging the extraordinary efforts of all his jail staff during the crisis, Workman wrote that Daniel “gave his precious life while physically ensuring that his 7 inmates were moved into a safe location, from which they all survived. He was just unable to get there himself in time. Like my savior, he too gave his life for others. This is so much for me to process.”

https://www.facebook.com/gravescountyjailandrccenter/posts/4597990543624761

While Daniel will be recognized at his services with full honors, his colleagues didn’t want to wait to acknowledge their gratitude for his courageous service, WHAS11 reports.

“He always wanted a shiny badge. He kept it shiny,” said a tearful fellow officer to Daniel’s brother and son, as he handed them a commemorative Graves County Jail officer’s badge.

“This is just a token of our appreciation,” he continued. “We’ll miss him.”