Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Harvey Lee Dellinger

Washington Police Department — Washington, NC

Felonious

End of Watch September 25, 1926

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 51 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Dellinger was shot and killed after responding to a home on East Second Street to investigate reports of a drunk man attempting to break into the house. As the chief stepped from his car the suspect opened fire at close range, striking him in the head three times.

The suspect fled the scene and committed suicide moments later as other officers approached the scene.

Chief Dellinger was survived by his wife and son.

Survivors

Chief Dellinger was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-9AB09D7C
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.
Chief of Police Dellinger served with the Washington Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Dellinger.

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

Agency

Department Washington Police Department

Location Washington, NC

Platform Identity wpd.beaufort.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 25, 1926

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Committed suicide

Chief of Police Harvey Lee Dellinger 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Washington Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harvey Lee Dellinger's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Harvey Lee Dellinger Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harvey Lee Dellinger is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harvey Lee Dellinger was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518