Harry Wilson

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch July 21, 1919

Age 29

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 622

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 130

Incident

Detective Sergeant Harry Wilson was shot and killed while he and his partner responded to a report of a person shooting from a window at 220 G Street, NW, during the 1919 Race Riots. As the detectives reached the second floor of the home Sergeant Wilson was shot in the heart by the suspect who was hiding under a bed. Sergeant Wilson's partner was able to return fire and wounded the 17-year-old female suspect. The suspect was taken into custody, and convicted, but was released in 1921. Home Defense Officer Isaac Halbfinger was shot and killed in a separate incident during the riots the following the day. Several other officers were also shot and wounded during the riots. Sergeant Wilson had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child and is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Washington, DC.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-DC-B81D9C43
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.
Detective Sergeant Wilson gave the Metropolitan Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Wilson.

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

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police Department

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 21, 1919

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 29

Badge Number 622

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Apprehended

Detective Sergeant Harry Wilson 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.

Metropolitan Police Department

of 131 officers

53.4% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious