Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Robert Saylor succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on December 13, 1901, when he and Patrolman William Dinwiddie were shot after responding to a disturbance at a local tavern on Central Street in Knoxville.
The suspect involved in the disturbance was the famous outlaw known as Kid Curry. The suspect immediately opened fire on the officers, wounding them both before fleeing.
Sergeant Dinwiddie succumbed to his wounds on June 19, 1914.
Patrolman Saylor was shot three times. Due to his injuries, he was discharged as a patrolman but served as a bail bond collector. Throughout the years, he had his feet amputated. On December 23, 1914, he died from the effects of his wounds.
Patrolman Saylor had served with the Knoxville Police Department for four years.
Kid Curry, aka Harvey Logan, was suspected of being involved with the murders of five law enforcement officers: Sheriff Josiah Hazen of the Converse County Sheriff's Department, Wyoming; Deputy Samuel Jenkins and Sheriff Jesse Tyler of the Grand County Sheriff's Department, Utah; and Patrolman Robert Saylor and Patrolman William Dinwiddie of the Knoxville Police Department, Tennessee.
Kid Curry was arrested after shooting Patrolman Saylor and Patrolman Dinwiddie. He was convicted of robbery since nobody would testify against him for attempted murder, but escaped from the local jail before being transferred to a federal prison. In 1904, Kid Curry was pursued by a posse in Colorado. After receiving a gunshot wound, he shot himself in the head to avoid capture.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, four brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-7D99F997- 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.
Patrolman Saylor gave the Knoxville Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Saylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Robert T. 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 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 Knoxville Police Department, 12 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert T. Saylor's cause is highlighted.
How Robert T. Saylor Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert T. Saylor is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert T. Saylor was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Knoxville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
