Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Arizona Weapon: Rifle Offender: Sentenced to life
Deputy Sheriff Brian Harris was shot and killed while tracking a burglary suspect in the desert near Fredonia, Arizona.
Deputy Harris had begun a foot pursuit of the man in Kane County, but the man fled across the border into Arizona. As Deputy Harris and another officer tracked the man's movements, he was fatally struck by rifle fire. The man had set up an ambush under a tree and fired the fatal shot from 40 to 150 feet away.
A large manhunt was initiated in which the suspect exchanged gunfire with other officers multiple times. The suspect, who was familiar with the desert area, was believed to have stored supplies in various locations. The suspect was arrested four days later after attempting to break into a home to steal supplies. The homeowner called 911, and responding officers took the suspect into custody without incident.
On September 22, 2012, the suspect pleaded guilty to murder, burglary, theft, and aggravated assault. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the eligibility of parole after 25 years. He died in prison in 2025.
Deputy Harris was a Gulf War veteran of the U.S. Army and had served with the Kane County Sheriff's Office for 19 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-UT-B56293A9- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Harris gave the Kane County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kanab community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Brian Bruce Harris served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Brian Bruce Harris is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brian Bruce Harris's cause is highlighted.
How Brian Bruce Harris Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brian Bruce Harris is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Brian Bruce Harris was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Military Service
Brian Bruce Harris served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Brian Bruce Harris’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.