Roll of Honor
John Harvey Reynolds
Incident
Federal Prohibition Agent John Reynolds and Police Chief James Melvin, of the Paintsville Police Department, were shot and killed while searching for a still in Johnson County, Kentucky. A group of five suspects opened fire on the officers, killing Chief Melvin and Agent Reynolds, and wounding a county deputy. Agent Reynolds had been shot 76 times. All five suspects were apprehended and convicted of murder.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-E8961438- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Federal Prohibition Agent Reynolds served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Reynolds.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Federal Prohibition Agent John Harvey Reynolds is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit, 47 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 79.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Harvey Reynolds's cause is highlighted.
How John Harvey Reynolds Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Harvey Reynolds is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Harvey Reynolds was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
