Patrolman George Rogers
Canton Police Department
North Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, May 21, 1974

Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, May 21, 1974
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Patrolman Rogers was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance. He was familiar with the couple involved but as he began to approach the house the male suspect began firing a rifle at the responding officers. Patrolman Rogers took cover behind his cruiser but was struck in the head by a piece of shrapnel when his cruiser was struck by a rifle round. The suspect was apprehended and convicted of the murder.

Trooper Giles Arthur Harmon
North Carolina Highway Patrol
North Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, April 9, 1985

Biographical Info
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: G-444

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, April 9, 1985
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life

Trooper Harmon was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Haywood County. Troopers were conducting heightened traffic enforcement in the area due to recent rock slides. The suspect had kidnapped his employer earlier in the day and had the victim in the vehicle when Trooper Harmon stopped him. The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to life in prison.

Trooper Harmon was assigned to Trooper G, District 4, in Buncombe County. He had been with the agency for five years and had previously served as a Brevard, North Carolina, police officer. A section of Highway 276 in Brevard was renamed in his honor. He was survived by his wife, who was a Buncombe County Sheriff's deputy, and parents.

Trooper Calvin E. Taylor
North Carolina Highway Patrol
North Carolina
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 3, 2001

Biographical Info
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: G-530

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Wednesday, October 3, 2001
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Sentenced to community service

Trooper Calvin Taylor was killed when his patrol vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer while on the shoulder of I-40 in Haywood County.

He was parked on the shoulder along with two other vehicles when the incident occurred. The truck was traveling 15-mph over the posted speed limit. An occupant of one of the other vehicles was also killed.

The driver of the truck was sentenced to community service for reckless endangerment. The incident occurred at the same location on I-40, and under similar circumstances, where Trooper Anthony Cogdill was killed 19 months later.

Senior Trooper Anthony Greg Cogdill
North Carolina Highway Patrol
North Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, May 30, 2003

Biographical Info
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: G-533

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: Friday, May 30, 2003
Weapon Used: Automobile; Narcotics involved
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 45 days

Trooper Cogdill was killed when his patrol car was struck by a tractor trailer on I-40, near NC 209, in Haywood County.

Trooper Cogdill was conducting a traffic stop at 1500 hours when the semi struck the patrol car from behind, pushing it 100 yards. The driver of the car that he had stopped was also injured. Witnesses reported that the tractor trailer had been driven recklessly and had been swerving in and out of traffic immediately before the collision. The incident occurred at the same location on I-40, and under similar circumstances, where Trooper Calvin Taylor was killed 19 months earlier.

The driver of the truck was found to have been under the influence of narcotics at the time of the incident. Additionally, his truck was determined to have defective brakes. He was charged with murder in connection with Trooper Cogdill's death, but found guilty of the lesser charge of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. He was sentenced to only 45 days in jail with credit for time served.

In August 2004 a bridge on Highway 209, crossing I-40, was renamed the "Trooper Anthony C. Cogdill Memorial Bridge."

Trooper Cogdill had been employed with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for six years, and was assigned to Troop G, District 5, in Haywood County. He had previously served with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office for 3 years. He is survived by his son, and his parents. Anthony had many friends at the Waynesville Police Depatment, he will be missed. Godspeed Anthony.

Trooper David Shawn Blanton Jr.
North Carolina Highway Patrol
North Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Biographical Info
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Trooper David Blanton was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on I-40 near Canton, North Carolina. A struggle ensued during the stop and Trooper Blanton was fatally shot.

The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended a short time later by deputies from the Haywood County Sheriff's Office and officers from the Canton Police Department.

Trooper Blanton had served with the agency for 2 years. He is survived by his wife and child.