Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Christopher Taylor was struck and killed by a drunk driver while conducting a traffic stop on I-75, south of US-17, at about 8:45 pm.
He was standing on the shoulder of the highway with the person he had stopped when the driver of an approaching vehicle lost control of her car and struck Deputy Taylor's patrol car. The patrol car was pushed into Deputy Taylor and the person he had stopped.
Deputy Taylor was transported to ShorePoint Health where he succumbed to his injuries. The other person who was struck suffered minor injuries.
The woman who struck Deputy Taylor had just completed probation for a prior DUI charge. She was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter. In 2024, she was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
Deputy Taylor had served with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office for 15 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents and fiancée.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-4BE1D2ED- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Taylor gave the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Punta Gorda community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Taylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Christopher Taylor is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Christopher Taylor's cause is highlighted.
How Christopher Taylor Compares
Offender Outcome
29 years in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Christopher Taylor is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Christopher Taylor was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Charlotte County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
