Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable John Taylor was shot and killed during a foot pursuit of a rape suspect. He and another constable had responded to a rape call, and when they arrived on the scene, the suspect fled in a vehicle. The man crashed the vehicle and then fled on foot. As Constable Taylor approached the man near Forbes Road and South Main Street, he was shot in the face and killed. When the suspect was eventually apprehended in Virginia, it was discovered that he had escaped a Virginia State Prison. He was convicted of first-degree murder and executed in the gas chamber on November 3rd, 1944.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, two brothers, and four sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-3A1361EC- 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.
Constable Taylor served with the Wake Forest Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wake Forest community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Taylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable John L. Taylor 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Wake Forest Police Dept., 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John L. Taylor's cause is highlighted.
How John L. Taylor Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1944
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Taylor is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John L. Taylor was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Wake Forest Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
