Police Officer Nathaniel L. Taylor Jr. | Star #7322

Police Officer Nathaniel L. Taylor, Jr., Star #7322, aged 39 years, was a 14 year, 2 month, 24 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Investigative Services – Organized Crime Division: Unit 189 – Organized Crime.

On September 28, 2008, at 5:32 a.m., Officer Nathaniel Taylor, and his partner, Officer Lemornet Miller, were working the second watch. They were conducting surveillance outside of a home located at 7920 South Clyde Avenue in order to execute a search warrant. The officers were tasked with monitoring the house until Calumet Area narcotics officers arrived to execute the search warrant. The owner of the home, Lamar Cooper, age 37, unexpectedly returned to his home. The officers radioed their supervisor and notified him that Cooper had arrived. They were given permission to stop and detain Cooper before he entered the home. Officer Taylor was approximately six feet away from Cooper’s open door window when he shouted, “Police. Put your hands up!“ Cooper drew his weapon and shot Officer Taylor in the head and chest. Officer Miller returned gunfire and struck Cooper. Officer Taylor was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center by CFD Ambulance #22 where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Doherty at 6:02 p.m. on September 28, 2008.

Lamar Cooper was arrested and stood trial. He found guilty and convicted of 1st degree murder and several narcotics charges. On March 26, 2012, Cooper was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The felon had previously been convicted of the attempted murder of a police officer for which he had only served six years in prison.

Officer Taylor was waked at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home located at 4727 West 103rd Street, his funeral mass was also held at St. Bede Catholic Church located at 8300 South Kostner Avenue. He was laid to rest on January 5, 2012 in Lincoln Cemetery, 12300 South Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. His grave is located in Section 7.

Police Officer Nathaniel L. Taylor, Jr., born June 13, 1969, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on July 5, 1994 and was in Recruit Class 94-4B at the Jackson Street Police Academy. He earned 7 Department Commendations, 1 Arnold Mireless Special Partnership Award, 1 Special Commendation, 1 Problem Solving Award, 37 Honorable Mentions, 7 Complimentary Letters and 1 Other Award during his career. He worked in the 7th District where he became a tactical officer and in 1998 transferred to the Organized Crime Division.

Officer Taylor served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1987 thru March 1991, was a veteran of Operation Desert Shield / Storm and was Honorably Discharged at the Rank of Private First Class. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from March 1991 thru February 8, 2004 and was Honorably Discharged at the Rank of Corporal. Officer Taylor was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was survived by his wife, Alcione Dias (nee Ribeiro); daughter, Naomi Sierra-Ruth, age 5 and siblings: Harriet Edward, James Edwards and Patricia Evereth.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #HP597541.

On November 8, 2012, the 4300 block of South Homan Avenue was dedicated as “Honorary Officer Nathaniel Taylor Way.” The honorary street sign was placed on the Northeast corner of 77th Street and Homan Avenue in the Ashburn neighborhood.