James Henry "Rip" Taylor, Jr.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA

Felonious

End of Watch September 22, 1995

Age 42

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 142 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 100

Incident

Sergeant James Taylor was shot and killed when he and his daughter interrupted a gang spraying graffiti at the intersection of Vassar Street and Grotto Street. Sergeant Taylor was off duty and was shot with his own weapon. The murder suspect later turned himself in. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to five to ten years in prison. On December 6, 2018, while out after serving his sentence the offender was re-arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and gun charges. Sergeant Taylor had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 15 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-673917A4
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.
Sergeant Taylor gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 15 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Taylor.

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

Agency

Department Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 22, 1995

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to five to ten years

Sergeant James Henry "Rip" Taylor, Jr. 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 45 of 101 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.6% of this agency's fallen.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

of 101 officers

44.6% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious