Sister of JSO officer killed in crash: "loved his job, believed in his work"

Action News Jax spoke with the sister of the JSO officer killed in a crash early Tuesday morning.

Angela Mazurek told reporter Kevin Clark that her brother, Officer Lance Whitaker, had a big heart and would give anyone the shirt off his back.

JSO said that Officer Whitaker was a 17-year veteran with JSO and was 48-years-old.

“He just loved his job, he believed in his work,” said Mazurek.

Officer Whitaker was in fact on the job at the time of the crash, working the midnight shift.

Sheriff Mike Williams said he was responding to a traffic crash on I-295 at 4:30 a.m., when his patrol car hit a tree.

Officer Whitaker was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

"It's a tough day for JSO and the city," Williams said.

Sheriff Williams added that weather was likely a factor in the crash.

There has been an outpouring of support in the community for Whitaker, who began his career in law enforcement as an Atlantic Beach Police Officer.

By Tuesday evening officers had left flowers at the Fallen Officers Memorial Wall downtown.

Whitaker’s sister said her family personally received calls from Florida Governor Rick Scott and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry

“I’m just so grateful my brother had so many people that loved him very much,” Mazurek said.

Cox Media Group