Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Taylor was shot and killed during an attempted jailbreak. The brother and two acquaintances of a prisoner in the jail had come to break him out. Deputy Taylor was sitting in his patrol car next to the county jail when three men who were approaching him suddenly opened fire with a shotgun and a pistol. He was shot several times and died instantly. The suspects fled from the scene after they failed to free a prisoner who was the brother of one of the suspects and was in jail for murder. Two suspects were captured the next day. The other suspect was apprehended by FBI agents in Nashville, Tennessee, six months later. Two suspects were convicted of Deputy Taylor's murder. One was sentenced to death, but later his sentence was commuted to life. The second suspect was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The third suspect was convicted of manslaughter. Deputy Taylor had served with the Winston County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-F373B30B- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Taylor gave the Winston County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Double Springs 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 James W. 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Winston County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James W. Taylor's cause is highlighted.
How James W. Taylor Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James W. Taylor is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James W. Taylor was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Winston County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
