Harry S. Van Meter

Fresno Police Department — Fresno, CA

Felonious

End of Watch February 21, 1907

Age 29

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Officer Harry Van Meter was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary while conducting a business check near I Street and Inyo Street. He had circled around the business and entered an alley when he was surprised by a suspect who shot him four times before fleeing. Officer Van Meter was able to return fire but did not strike the suspect. The prime suspect in the case, although never brought to justice for Officer Van Meter's murder, was also the prime suspect in the murder of Deputy Sheriff Joe Price of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. Officer Van Meter had served with the Fresno Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-52BB07F2
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

You barely got started.
Officer Van Meter gave the Fresno Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Fresno community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Van Meter.

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

Agency

Department Fresno Police Department

Location Fresno, CA

Platform Identity frespd.fresno.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1907

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Never charged

Officer Harry S. Van Meter 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Fresno Police Department, 8 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.3% of this agency's fallen.

Fresno Police Department

of 15 officers

53.3% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious