Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Gerald Harmon succumbed to a gunshot wound received three months earlier after apprehending two bootlegging suspects on May 2nd, 1919. He took the men into custody and walked them to a call box on Brook Road near the Seaboard Air Line Railroad crossing. As they waited for the patrol wagon to arrive one of the suspects produced a handgun and shot Officer Harmon in the chest. He succumbed to his wound three months later. Three suspects were later arrested by members of the Richmond Police Department and Virginia Department of Prohibition. The subjects had hidden 24 cases of whiskey in the woods near the railroad tracks. The suspect who shot Officer Harmon was convicted of attempted murder before he died. He was sentenced to 7 years. Officer Harmon had only served with the Richmond Police Department for approximately three months at the time of the shooting.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-B0BF19AC- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Harmon served with the Richmond Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Harmon.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Gerald M. Harmon is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Richmond Police Department, 20 of 40 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gerald M. Harmon's cause is highlighted.
How Gerald M. Harmon Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 7 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald M. Harmon is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gerald M. Harmon was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
39 officers from Richmond Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
