Police officer on patrol dies from blistering July heat in Louisiana, officials say

The hotter than normal temperatures being experienced by much of the United States just claimed the life of a police officer on the job in Louisiana.

Officer Brian Olliff “passed away Saturday evening from an unexpected heat related medical event while working in the downtown district,” the Natchitoches Police Department reported. Natchitoches is about 75 miles southeast of Shreveport.

The specifics of Olliff’s death were not revealed, but law enforcement officers are susceptible to potentially fatal heat stroke due to the layers of gear they wear, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Heat stroke can occur when when the body’s core temperature reaches 104 degrees, and symptoms include seizures and a racing heart, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Temperatures in Natchitoches reached 97 degrees Saturday, July 16, and have topped 100 degrees six other days so far this month, according to AccuWeather.

“Heatstroke requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage to your brain and other vital organs that can result in death,” the Mayo Clinic reports.

A funeral for Olliff was scheduled for Friday, July 22, in Natchitoches, police officials said.

“Officer Olliff had served with the Natchitoches Police Department for 20 years and concurrently served with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office,” according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. “He previously served with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.”

An obituary described 52-year-old Olliff as a husband and father of four who was “hardworking (and) purpose driven.” One of his sons “also serves with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office,” the memorial page noted.

Olliff’s death comes during a period when NOAA predicts temperatures “well above average across much of the country, spanning the Mountain West to the East Coast.”

Louisiana is among the states where July temperatures will be hottest, but the worst of the heat is expected from northern Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas and into southern Nebraska, NOAA says.

This story was originally published July 19, 2022 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Police officer on patrol dies from blistering July heat in Louisiana, officials say."