Roll of Honor
William B. Saylor
Incident
Federal Prohibition Agent Willie Saylor was shot and killed in Pineville, Kentucky, when the father and brother of a prisoner he was transporting attempted to free the man. On February 23rd, 1924, Agent Saylor had made an arrest while breaking up a moonshine still. He was accompanied by his brother, Rusaw Saylor, at the time of the incident. While transporting the prisoner, Agent Saylor's car tire went flat near Gibson Station. As he was repairing the flat tire, the father and brother of the prisoner approached them, blocked the car with their vehicle, and requested that the prisoner be released, offering to pay. Agent Saylor refused. The father, a local justice of the peace, had a drawn shotgun and Agent Saylor tried to take the gun away. Agent Saylor was the first person shot, but it is unclear if it was by the shotgun or another weapon. The father and both sons were killed, and Agent Saylor was taken to a hospital where he died the following day. A grand jury hearing cleared all agents by the federal court in London, Kentucky, regarding involvement in the shootings. Agent Saylor had served with the Internal Revenue Service for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-86FF8282- 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.
Federal Prohibition Agent Saylor gave the United States Department of the Treasury 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Saylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Federal Prohibition Agent William B. Saylor 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William B. Saylor's cause is highlighted.
How William B. Saylor Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William B. Saylor is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William B. Saylor was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
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.
