Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Federal Prohibition Agent

John Harvey Reynolds

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch August 26, 1921

Age 42

Badge 7843

The Vigil Panel 41 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

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.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-E8961438
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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

Department United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdtirspufed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1921

Age 42

Badge Number 7843

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Convicted of murder

Federal Prohibition Agent John Harvey Reynolds 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit

of 59 officers

79.7% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Harvey Reynolds's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How John Harvey Reynolds Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Harvey Reynolds is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Harvey Reynolds was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

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.