Jan 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 1

An Established Family History
in Law Enforcement
Chief Taylor has deep historical roots
in the law enforcement community. The
Chief’s grandmother’s brother Morris Greenwalt,
a 51-year-old Hazen Police Officer,
died in the line of duty on April 29, 1974. According
to the Officer Down Memorial Page
(December 2023), Patrolman Greenwalt
was shot and killed after stopping three
female robbery suspects on Interstate 40,
wanted in Brinkley, Arkansas, for the armed
robbery of a grocery store. One of the suspects
shot him after stopping them in a
pick-up truck they had stolen in Nashville,
Tennessee. Then another one took Patrolman
Greenwalt’s service weapon and fired
all its rounds into him as he lay helpless on
the ground. All three suspects, 19, 23, and
24, were arrested later the same day. All
three had escaped from the Kentucky Correctional
Institution for Women two days
earlier. The two older suspects blamed the
19-year-old for killing Patrolman Greenwalt,
but a chemical test on their hands
showed that they both had fired a weapon,
and the 19-year-old had not. Both were
convicted of murder and sentenced to life.
The 19-year-old was convicted of accessory
to murder and sentenced to 11 years.
As of December 2022, both murderers were
in McPherson Prison. Patrolman Greenwalt
had served with the Hazen Police Department
for six years. He was survived by his
wife and two children.
Chief Taylor shared that his father, Terry
Taylor, was a radio dispatcher for the Hazen
Police Department at this time and he
closed the office and jumped in the ambulance
to try and save Patrolman Greenwalt.
Later that year, in 1974, Terry was appointed
Chief of Police at 18 years of age. Bradley
ultimately became Chief of Police at Hazen
in November of 2010 after the previous
Chief retired. Chief Taylor also served previously
as Chief of Police in De Valls Bluff
for 6 years. He is the proud father of two
adult sons who currently serve in law enforcement.
Cutler is a local sergeant for the
Prairie County Sheriff’s Office, and Chance
is a decorated Arkansas State Trooper. It
is not uncommon to see him and his sons
working together, both behind and in front
of the camera. Chief Taylor is married, has
two minor children, and has been in law enforcement
for twenty-six years.
76 The Blues 40th - January Anniversary ‘24 Issue