Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Donald Harding was killed while pursuing drag racers on Eight Mile Road. Officer Harding and his partner spotted two cars attempting to race near Beech Road. As they pursued the vehicles, one of them intentionally swerved toward the patrol vehicle, forcing them to skid on the road. The car struck a tree. Officer Harding was killed instantly. His partner was critically injured. The driver of the vehicle was never apprehended. Officer Harding was a United States National Guard veteran and had served with the Southfield Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-B4442A8C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 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.
Police Officer Harding gave the Southfield Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Southfield community, and 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
Donald L. Harding served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Donald L. Harding is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 229 of 718 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 0.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Southfield Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald L. Harding's cause is highlighted.
How Donald L. Harding Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Donald L. Harding is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Southfield Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
