Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Horace Taylor and Deputy Sheriff Ed Slavey were shot and killed as they attempted to arrest a drunk miner for making a disturbance in Zenith, Tennessee. Deputy Slavey was the mine foreman and had requested Sheriff Taylor come to the mine to help arrest the man. After shooting Sheriff Taylor the man hid behind several coal cars on a railroad siding. Deputy Slavey was shot as he attempted to subdue him by the coal cars. A posse shot and killed the man after a short standoff. Sheriff Taylor died the following day. Sheriff Taylor had served as sheriff for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, sister, and four brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-5E8CC2A1- 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.
Sheriff Taylor gave the Fentress County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jamestown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Taylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Horace B. 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Fentress County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Horace B. Taylor's cause is highlighted.
How Horace B. Taylor Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Horace B. Taylor is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Horace B. Taylor was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Fentress County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
