Harvey L. Middleton
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Harvey L. Middleton

Berkeley County Sheriff's Office — Moncks Corner, SC
End of Watch May 11, 1975
Age 30
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 4 mo
The Vigil Panel 115 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Harvey Middleton was shot and killed when he and the St. Stephen Police Chief attempted to arrest a man who went on a shooting spree at his mother's home. The suspect had shot and killed several dogs, chickens, and hogs and was threatening to shoot members of his family. As the officers arrived at the home, the suspect pulled a pistol and ran behind a nearby smokehouse. As Deputy Middleton rounded the corner of the building in pursuit, the suspect shot him in his abdomen. Although mortally wounded, Deputy Middleton returned fire, seriously wounding the suspect. The suspect was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison on January 29, 1976. He was paroled on March 7, 1984. On April 25, 1990, he was returned to prison for violating his parole. Deputy Middleton was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office for over 1 year. He was survived by his wife and their two children, and his two children prior to their marriage. On July 24, 2021, the Berkley County Sheriff, Sheriff's Deputies, and South Carolina lawmakers paid tribute to Deputy Middleton by naming the stretch of Highway 45 between Betaw Road to Arrowhead Road the Deputy Sheriff Harvey Middleton Memorial Highway.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and their two children, and his two children prior to their marriage.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-4F2F0564
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Middleton gave the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Moncks Corner community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Moncks Corner, Berkeley County, SC
Platform Identity bcso.berkeley.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 11, 1975
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 4 mo
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Harvey L. Middleton served in the U.S. Army (1966–1968) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Harvey L. Middleton 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In SC, 271 of 440 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.6% of this state's fallen. That is 61.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Berkeley County Sheriff's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 440 officers
61.6% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

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

How Harvey L. Middleton Compares

Age at Death
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1.3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harvey L. Middleton is highlighted in May.

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. Harvey L. Middleton was killed by handgun.

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

Military Service

Harvey L. Middleton served in the U.S. Army (1966–1968) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Harvey L. Middleton’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Berkeley County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.