22-year-old police officer killed in crash heading to off-duty job in Clayton County

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Clayton County police officer was killed in a crash as he was heading to his off-duty job Monday.

Police said the accident happened on Tara Boulevard at North Main Street but the circumstances are still under investigation. The officer was taken to Southern Regional Hospital, where he died.

Channel 2′s Tom Jones has confirmed the officer was 22-year-old Armondo Mendoza, who had been with the department for over a year.

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Family and fellow officers gathered outside the hospital to pay their respects to Mendoza.

An officer who helped Mendoza get into law enforcement told Jones it hits differently when you have a personal connection with a co-worker who loses his life.

“This is something that he already wanted to do,” said Officer Aubriel Stroud. “It was a dream for him.”

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Stroud said Mendoza had been with the department for over a year. Stroud is one of the officers who responded to the accident Monday.

Video from NewsChopper 2 showed two cars, including a Clayton County police cruiser, with heavy front-end damage. The driver of the other car is in serious condition.

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