Local News - January 2004

Officer dies after doing job he loved

Published January 2, 2004

By ALICE SMITH, Staff Writer

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A long-time deputy with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office died Tuesday night after running security at a high school basketball game.

Thomas “Tom” Ross Taylor, 61, of 2070 Devine Road was found unresponsive at East Lincoln High School at around 10:30 p.m., Sheriff Barbara Pickens said.

Taylor, a 1st sergeant with the Sheriff’s Office, had been working security at the First Charter Holiday Classic basketball tournament at the school Tuesday night, Pickens said.

After the game, he was found slumped over the steering wheel of his patrol car in the school’s parking lot, the engine running.

Lincoln County EMS and East Lincoln Rescue Squad members worked to resuscitate Taylor but were unable to, Pickens said. He died that night from an apparent medical condition.

Pickens and her staff at the Sheriff’s Office are mourning the loss of Taylor, who she says was highly knowledgeable and dedicated.

“He was one of the finest officers we’ve ever had,” Pickens said Wednesday.

Taylor began his law enforcement career in August of 1976 as a jailer for Sheriff Harven Crouse. He was appointed deputy sheriff in the patrol division in 1977.

In 1978, Taylor was promoted to patrol sergeant and then to lieutenant in 1979.

He left the Sheriff’s Office in 1981 to accept a management position with Food Lion.

In 1988, he returned to law enforcement. He was again promoted to sergeant in 1988 and worked for Sheriff Joe Kiser until 1994.

Taylor continued working for Pickens and was promoted to patrol lieutenant in 1996.

He most recently was working as assistant jail administrator.

His wife, Sarah, works as an intake officer with the Sheriff’s Office.

Pickens said Taylor’s death is both a personal and professional loss.

“He has been my friend since 1976, and I was very happy when he came back to work in 1988,” Pickens said.

“He knew everything about being a sheriff’s deputy and about running the jail. He was a man I could always call on for help and count on for anything.”

Pickens believes Taylor died after doing something he loved.

He was a regular at the annual high school tournaments and always looked forward to the after Christmas event, Pickens said.

“Tom has always gone down and worked security for them at the ball games,” she said.

A celebration of Taylor’s life will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. today at the Sheriff’s Office.

Taylor

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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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