Chief of Police

Dexter A. Millsaps

Taylorsville Police Department — Taylorsville, NC
Felonious
End of Watch July 9, 1944
Age 49
The Vigil Panel 80 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Millsaps was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a 15 year-old youth at a hotel for stealing a handgun. Chief Millsaps was attempting to the arrest the suspect at the request of another agency. As Chief Millsaps reached down to pickup the boy's gun the suspect shot him. The suspect fled but was later apprehended. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to life in prison April 26, 1945.

Survivors

Chief Millsaps was survived by his wife and two children.

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.
Chief of Police Millsaps served with the Taylorsville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Taylorsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Millsaps.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Taylorsville, Alexander County, NC
Platform Identity tpd.alexander.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 9, 1944
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Dexter is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1944, 59 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Dexter was 49. Of the 14,220 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

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded

Chief of Police Dexter A. Millsaps

Taylorsville Police Department · End of Watch July 9, 1944

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 4-E

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