James E. Harper, Jr.

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 12, 1964

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 99 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 93

Incident

Patrolman James Harper was killed when his patrol car was struck by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver. He and his partner observed a speeding car and were attempting to stop it when the suspect's vehicle turned in front of their patrol car at the intersection of S Bellevue Boulevard (modern-day Elvis Presley Boulevard) and Ledger Road at 2:05 am. Patrolman Harper was transported to the hospital where he died several hours later. The vehicle that the officers were chasing was being driven by a man rushing his pregnant wife to the hospital because she had gone into labor. He was not charged. Patrolman Harper had served with the Memphis Police Department for one year.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-DB562DAA
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Patrolman Harper gave the Memphis Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis 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

Department Memphis Police Department

Location Memphis, TN

Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 12, 1964

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Not available

Military Service

James E. Harper, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman James E. Harper, Jr. 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Memphis Police Department, 53 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.4% of this agency's fallen.

Memphis Police Department

of 94 officers

56.4% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious