Wesley Taylor
Agency patch
Acting Chief of Police

Wesley Taylor

Mineola Police Department — Mineola, TX
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch July 14, 1950
Age 54
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 86 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Acting Chief of Police Wesley Taylor succumbed to a gunshot wound following a dispute over jurisdiction in Mineloa.

Chief Taylor had responded to an automobile crash at the intersection of Pacific and Broad Streets involving a local resident and an out-of-state motorist. The individuals involved in the collision had exchanged information and were preparing to leave when the constable arrived and demanded that the out-of-state motorist be arrested.

After a brief scuffle between the two law officers, the two decided to go to the Justice of the Peace. When they arrived at the court at 11:30 a.m., they found the doors to be locked. As they walked away, the constable suddenly pulled out his gun and shot Chief Taylor in the side. Chief Taylor was able to return fire and kill the constable. Chief Taylor succumbed to his wounds two days later.

Acting Chief of Police Taylor was a United States Army World War I veteran and had served in law enforcement for 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-A19BDED1
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Wesley is one person.

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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Acting Chief of Police Taylor gave the Mineola Police Department 25 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mineola community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Mineola, Wood County, TX
Platform Identity mpd.wood.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 14, 1950
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Wesley Taylor served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Acting Chief of Police Wesley Taylor 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Mineola Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Mineola Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. Wesley Taylor's cause is highlighted.

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

How Wesley Taylor Compares

Age at Death
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wesley Taylor is highlighted in Jul.

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. Wesley Taylor was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

Wesley Taylor served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Wesley Taylor’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Mineola Police Department are honored on badge.nw.