Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Chief of Police

Dexter A. Millsaps

Taylorsville Police Department — Taylorsville, NC

Felonious

End of Watch July 9, 1944

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 80 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Millsaps was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a 15 year-old youth at a hotel for stealing a handgun. Chief Millsaps was attempting to the arrest the suspect at the request of another agency. As Chief Millsaps reached down to pickup the boy's gun the suspect shot him. The suspect fled but was later apprehended. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to life in prison April 26, 1945.

Survivors

Chief Millsaps was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-9C87D4A9
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 Dexter. 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.
Chief of Police Millsaps served with the Taylorsville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Taylorsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Millsaps.

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

Agency

Department Taylorsville Police Department

Location Taylorsville, NC

Platform Identity tpd.alexander.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 9, 1944

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Chief of Police Dexter A. Millsaps 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%.

Taylorsville Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% 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. Dexter A. Millsaps'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 Dexter A. Millsaps Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dexter A. Millsaps is highlighted in Jul.

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. Dexter A. Millsaps was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518