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Day Honors Officers Killed On Duty; One Sheriff Died In North Escambia
May 15, 2009
Over 25 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in Escambia County, including a sheriff shot to death in North Escambia.
Today is National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor law officers killed in the line of duty. Members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Fraternal Order of Police gathered outside the department’s headquarters in Pensacola yesterday to honor the fallen officers.
Since 1923, 11 Escambia County deputies have died in the line of duty. Another 13 Pensacola Police Department Officers have been killed since 1889 and one constable was killed on duty in 1955.
An Escambia County, Alabama, sheriff was shot and killed in North Escambia near Bluff Springs on July 3, 1895.
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff E.S. McMillan was shot and killed as he and a posse searched for the notorious train robber nicknamed “Railroad Bill.” In 1893, Railroad Bill had shot and wounded a deputy sheriff who confronted him at a Bluff Springs home about not paying taxes on his weapon. He then fled and spent the next two years illegally riding Alabama freighters, robbing trains, and engaging in gun fights with lawmen.
In July of 1895, Sheriff McMillan received a tip that Railroad Bill was hiding out in Bluff Springs, Florida, and went with a posse to arrest him. As Sheriff McMillan walked along the railroad tracks, the suspect, who was hiding behind a tree, opened fire with a Winchester rifle. Sheriff McMillan was struck and succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Railroad Bill was later gunned down by a host of law enforcement officers.
McMillan is the only officer from Escambia County, Alabama, to ever die in the line of duty.
Comments
7 Responses to “Day Honors Officers Killed On Duty; One Sheriff Died In North Escambia”
Sad. I wonder if people think about what it would be like to die before they shoot someone. You should never shoot ANYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and thats for your own safety.
I agree that this is an intersting story. In reference to Stephen Taylor, my Dad is now retired from the PPD, and had not been on the force long when that happened. He still says that is a day he will never forget. RIP for all civil service members killed in the line of duty.
That was very interesting!!!
RIP to my uncle. Officer Stephen Taylor who was fatally shot during the robbery of Freedom Federal Savings Bank at Palafox and Gregory streets in Pensacola on October 19, 1982. It then took until September 20, 2006 to finally execute the man who murdered my uncle, Clarence Hill. His execution took place 29 days short of 24 YEARS after he commited that murder.
I wasn’t born until Feb of 1983. Every now and then I’ll meet somebody who can tell me their story of where they were that tragic day. It always makes me sad yet happy to hear those stories.
Things haven’t changed much around here. Tempers flare when you mess with peoples’ guns and taxes.
But it is amazing that there have been so few deaths in all that time. One LEO death is too many though.
Everything I’ve ever read on Railroad Bill states he was buried in an unmarked grave in or around Pensacola, FL.
where is railroad bill lade to rest at in what grave yard???????????????????????????