Murdered WVC code enforcement officer laid to rest
Aug 17, 2018, 11:16 AM | Updated: 6:40 pm
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Jill Robinson was remembered as a loving mother, fun family member, and dedicated public servant, as she was laid to rest Friday morning at the Maverik Center.
Police say 52-year-old Robinson was shot and killed by Kevin Billings on Thursday, August 9, 2018, while she was responding to his home on duty as a code enforcement officer for the city.
The Emerald Society Pipe and Drum band escorted the Robinson family into the Maverik Center.
Her sister Julie Egelund spoke to the media before the funeral, saying the past week has been the hardest week for their family: “We are shocked and devastated beyond what one can even comprehend,” she said.
Jill Robinson’s flag-draped casket enters the Maverik Center. She was shot and killed on-duty last Thursday. pic.twitter.com/SdORCmH17u
— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) August 17, 2018
“I have gone over in my head what happened to Jill multiple times to seek answers and to figure out what could we have done to change the events that day. And in all of my thinking, nothing could have changed those events. However, Jill had a love for the service animals, and I have the idea for the future protection of code enforcement by allowing you to have your own service animal for protection. This is my personal thought on how Jill might have had a chance that day,” she said.
Robinson’s supervisor, Layne Morris, said the department is looking at everything they can after the shooting in order to keep officers safe. He said he goes over and over what happened in his mind.
Morris said during the funeral that Robinson was a dedicated professional and had high character and discipline, but also loved fun, crafts, holidays and her family.
Her children and siblings spoke about her love of life and her brother talked about how she saved his life with a bone marrow transplant two years ago.
“Her DNA is now my DNA,” said Jaren Robinson, and he joked, ” I have an indescribable feeling and a desire for some reason to go and play softball and I don’t know why.”
Jill is a hero, she is a life-saver,” he said.
