Harry Clifton Stabler
Police Officer

Harry Clifton Stabler

St. Matthews Police Department — St. Matthews, SC
Felonious
End of Watch August 1, 1943
Age 48
The Vigil Panel 80 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Harry Stabler was stabbed to death while making an arrest. The wound was inflicted by an ice pick which penetrated the heart. The suspect was resisting arrest when he made the attack upon the officer. Office Stabler was transported to Tri-County Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The 37-year-old suspect was apprehended three weeks later in New York. On May 23, 1944, he was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life.

Survivors

Officer Stabler was survived by his wife, two daughters, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-425BDA0B
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.
Police Officer Stabler served with the St. Matthews Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Matthews community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Stabler.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location St. Matthews, Calhoun County, SC
Platform Identity smpd.calhoun.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 1, 1943
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

Police Officer Harry Clifton Stabler 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At St. Matthews Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

St. Matthews Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
SC — Statewide
272
of 441 officers
61.7% 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. Harry Clifton Stabler's cause is highlighted.

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

How Harry Clifton Stabler Compares

Age at Death
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harry Clifton Stabler is highlighted in Aug.

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. Harry Clifton Stabler was killed by edged weapon.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from St. Matthews Police Department are honored on badge.nw.