Al Taylor: Driving Force Behind Tempe's Poignant Public Safety Memorial
If you've visited Tempe Beach Park recently, you've likely noticed the striking Tempe Public Safety Memorial, dedicated to the city's fallen heroes. Positioned at the entrance to Tempe Beach Park and Tempe Town Lake, this powerful tribute honors Tempe firefighters, police officers, and K-9 partners who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The three larger-than-life sculptures—a firefighter, police officer, and K-9—are masterfully crafted with exquisite attention to detail.
Upon first seeing the memorial, I was compelled to learn its backstory and discovered that Al Taylor, a former Tempe police officer and current owner of Special Moments Catering, was instrumental from the start as a key member of the project organizing team.
Meeting Al revealed a multifaceted leader with a passion for tackling ambitious projects. As part of the team responsible for fundraising and artist selection, his skills made him ideally suited to bring this vision to life.
Al is a decisive action-taker—resourceful, entrepreneurial, and relentlessly optimistic. His can-do spirit, paired with tireless effort, has propelled his successes, from partnering with his equally dynamic wife, Michelle, to championing the Public Safety Memorial.
Al and Michelle met in Detroit as he was drafted into the Army and sent to boot camp at Ft. Knox; her family relocated to Phoenix. Undaunted, Al secured a Military Police assignment in Yuma, enabling weekend visits to Phoenix.
After honorable service, Al and Michelle married in 1974. Leveraging his MP background and interpersonal skills, Al joined the Tempe Police Department, rising to Lieutenant.
In 1983, with their children in school, Michelle launched a specialty cake business. Al supported from the Tempe PD, handling deliveries with flair—dressing as themed characters, like vampires for a Halloween bat cake.
The venture thrived but evolved into full-service catering under Special Moments. In the 1980s, demand for mystery and casino parties led them to incorporate entertainment, where Al's investigative expertise shone in scripting real-crime-inspired events.
On the force, Al led the Crime Prevention Unit, educating residents on risk reduction. His business acumen drove innovations like a FAX tree alert system with the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and a crime-deterrent landscaping program with Home Depot—using thorny plants under windows—vastly expanding outreach to businesses and homeowners.
Retiring in 1996, Al stayed connected via the Tempe Police Foundation at Chief Tom Ryff's invitation, later serving as President. This role positioned him to lead the Public Safety Memorial initiative.
Chief Ryff tasked the Foundation with the project. As President, Al drove fundraising; the City Council matched up to $175,000, and through events, corporate gifts, individual donations, and Assistant Chief Angel Carbajal's efforts, an extra $186,000 was raised in two years.
The City solicited artist qualifications from 73 U.S. applicants. A 15-member committee, including Al, selected Benjamin Victor of Boise, Idaho—a renowned creator of public monuments.
Dedicated on December 6, 2016, with Al delivering the keynote, the memorial holds deep personal meaning. It honors his friend, Lieutenant John Bradshaw, killed on September 20, 1987, after 20 years with Tempe PD, shot responding to a fellow officer's call.
Visiting with Al, he shared stories of the six police officers, one firefighter, and two K-9s commemorated, underscoring its profound significance. 'It's my major accomplishment in life,' he reflected.
Al's life exemplifies resourcefulness, optimism, leadership, and hard work. He credits luck but adds, 'The harder I worked, the luckier I got!'
