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Incident
Chief John Taylor was shot and killed by the town doctor the day after the doctor's barn burned down. The doctor had an ongoing dispute with Chief Taylor and believed that the chief was responsible for the fire. The doctor located the chief in front of the NorthState building on Salem Street and shot him twice with a shotgun. The suspect then followed Chief Taylor into the store and shot him four more times with a handgun. The suspect was sentenced to life in prison and was confined at the department for the criminally insane at the state prison in Raleigh. He escaped on August 29th, 1922. In 1924 the suspect was located and arrested in California. Because of a legal technicality, the state of California refused to honor an extradition request from North Carolina and instead ordered him to be set free. In 1928 he died as the result of a mining accident in Winthrop, California. Chief Taylor had served with the Thomasville Police Department for one year and had previously served with Winston-Salem Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Chief Taylor gave the Thomasville Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Thomasville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Taylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Thomasville Police Department has lost 8 officers; 5 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 385 officers killed feloniously in NC, 58% of the 664 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1921, 1 officer at Thomasville Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 4 years on record. The heaviest was 1977, with 2.
In 1921, 7 officers in NC were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 127 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 12.
In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1921, 516 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
Who
John was 29. Of the 5 killed feloniously at Thomasville Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 30; the middle age was 29. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 1 years.
John was 29. Of the 370 killed feloniously in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 5 years.
John was 29. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 29. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 20% of these deaths at Thomasville Police Department; January holds the most, 40%. Saturdays: 60%.
April holds 10.1% of these deaths in NC; May holds the most, 11.4%. Saturdays: 19.5%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 62.5% of all 8 deaths at Thomasville Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 40% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58% of all 664 deaths in NC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Thomasville Police Department has 8 officers remembered here, John among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Thomasville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
