John Harvey Reynolds
Agency patch
Federal Prohibition Agent

John Harvey Reynolds

Felonious
End of Watch August 26, 1921
Age 42
Badge 7843
Gender Male

Incident

Federal Prohibition Agent John Reynolds and Police Chief James Melvin, of the Paintsville Police Department, were shot and killed while searching for a still in Johnson County, Kentucky. A group of five suspects opened fire on the officers, killing Chief Melvin and Agent Reynolds, and wounding a county deputy. Agent Reynolds had been shot 76 times. All five suspects were apprehended and convicted of murder.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Federal Prohibition Agent Reynolds served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Reynolds.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtirspufed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1921
Age 42
Badge Number 7843
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 42. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit has 59 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years

Federal Prohibition Agent John Harvey Reynolds

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit · End of Watch August 26, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 17-W

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