Harry Charles McCormick

Wharton County Sheriff's Office — Wharton, TX

Felonious

End of Watch June 26, 1920

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Deputy McCormick was shot and killed while helping a fellow deputy serve a warrant on a man. The suspect first agreed to go with the officers but then began to resist and was able to gain control of the partner's pistol. At that moment the suspect's brother emerged with a Winchester rifle. As Deputy McCormick began to help his partner the brother shot him in the head, killing him.

The two brothers were shot and killed the following week after being surrounded by a posse. Two other men who aided in their original escape were lynched by citizens.

On this 100th "anniversary" of your heroic actions, know that no passage of time will ever erase you service or the sacrifice you made. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) June 26th, 2020

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-DFC1694E
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.
Deputy Sheriff McCormick served with the Wharton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Wharton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff McCormick.

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

Agency

Department Wharton County Sheriff's Office

Location Wharton, TX

Platform Identity wcso.wharton.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 1920

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Harry Charles McCormick 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 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 Wharton County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Wharton County Sheriff's Office

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious