Dolie Clifford Harmon
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Dolie Clifford Harmon

Johnson County Sheriff's Office — Paintsville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch December 23, 1919
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 38 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Dolie Harmon and a private detective were shot and killed by the brother of a man they had just arrested for deserting from the U.S. Army.

They located the man near the headwaters of Daniels Creek and placed him under arrest. Several neighbors notified the man's brother, who then came to the scene, where the detective was detaining the deserter while Deputy Harmon returned to the man's home to obtain some belongings.

When the brother approached he immediately opened fire, killing the private detective. A short time later Deputy Harmon returned to the scene and was also shot and killed by the brother. Both men fled the scene.

The deserter was arrested two years later in Tazewell County, Virginia, using a new name. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in the murders. It is unknown if the other brother was ever arrested.

Deputy Harmon was survived by his expectant wife.

Survivors

Deputy Harmon was survived by his expectant wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-ED5F44E3
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Harmon served with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Paintsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Harmon.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Paintsville, Johnson County, KY
Platform Identity jcso.johnson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 23, 1919
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Sheriff Dolie Clifford Harmon is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Johnson County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Johnson County Sheriff's Office
6
of 6 officers
100% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dolie Clifford Harmon's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Dolie Clifford Harmon Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dolie Clifford Harmon is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dolie Clifford Harmon was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location