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Incident
Location: Virginia Weapon: Automobile Offender: Not available
Chief of Police Charles Taylor and Patrolman Weaver Hogan, of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, were killed when their patrol car was forced off the road into a bridge abutment on US Route 21 south of Wytheville, Virginia. The two officers, along with a third officer, had chased the bootlegging suspects into Virginia from North Carolina.
The third officer was injured in the accident.
Chief Taylor had served with the agency for 18 months.
The bridge on Highway 21 entering Sparta, North Carolina, is named in honor of Patrolman Hogan and Chief Taylor.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, father, and eight siblings.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 of Police Taylor gave the Sparta Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Sparta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Taylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Charles is the only officer of Sparta Police Department remembered here.
Charles is one of 205 officers lost to accidents in NC, 30.9% of the 664 remembered there.
Charles is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1948, 5 officers in NC were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 90 years on record. The heaviest was 2018, with 7.
In 1948, 74 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 36th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1948, 81 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Charles was 44. Of the 194 lost to accidents in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 46; the middle age was 35. Charles had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 5.4 years.
Charles was 44. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 44. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 10.2% of these deaths in NC; September holds the most, 12.7%. Mondays: 10.7%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Sparta Police Department. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 100% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30.9% of all 664 deaths in NC, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 15.1% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 5.6% of these deaths.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Sparta Police Department are honored on badge.nw.