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Deputy Sheriff

Wilburn Taylor

Harlan County Sheriff's Office — Harlan, KY
Felonious
United States flag Kentucky flag
End of Watch March 29, 1917
Age 28
The Vigil Panel 75 · Column 1 · Line 3 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 35

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Wilburn Taylor was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two men who were drinking in Layman, Kentucky.

The men shot Deputy Taylor nine times. Despite the wounds, he was able to return fire and wounded one of the men. The suspects were never held accountable for Deputy Taylor's murder.

Deputy Taylor also served as a school teacher.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Taylor served with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Taylor.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Harlan County Sheriff's Office
Type Sheriff's Office
Location Harlan, Harlan County, KY
Platform Identity hcso.harlan.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 29, 1917
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Wilburn is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Wilburn was 28. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Harlan County Sheriff's Office has 36 officers remembered here, Wilburn among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff Wilburn Taylor

Harlan County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch March 29, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

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