Robert Taylor Walker
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Robert Taylor Walker

Irvine Police Department — Irvine, KY
Felonious
End of Watch February 16, 1986
Age 66
The Vigil Panel 130 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Robert Walker was shot and killed while responding to a call. It was later determined that the call had been placed to lure him to the scene with the purpose of ambushing him.

The suspect was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was denied parole in March of 2011. He will be eligible for parole again in 2016.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-8D194E3C
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Chief of Police Walker served with the Irvine Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Irvine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Walker.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Irvine, Estill County, KY
Platform Identity ipd.estill.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 16, 1986
Age 66
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Chief of Police Robert Taylor Walker 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Irvine Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Irvine Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Taylor Walker's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Robert Taylor Walker Compares

Age at Death
66
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Taylor Walker is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Taylor Walker was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909