Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Chief John Harter was shot and killed by a man and his son as he stood on the loading dock at the train depot in nearby Lena.
A witness stated that the father walked up to Chief Harter and asked for a pistol Chief Harter had taken from him earlier. When Chief Harter refused to return the gun, both attacked him and then shot him.
Both were arrested and convicted of manslaughter. The father was sentenced to ten years and his 18-year-old son to five years at Hampton County Public Works.
Chief Harter was survived by his wife and several children.
He is buried in Harter Cemetery, Allendale County, South Carolina.
Survivors
Chief Harter was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-9B6EB7A9- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Chief Harter served with the Allendale Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Allendale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Chief Harter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Chief John Brooke Harter Sr. 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Brooke Harter Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How John Brooke Harter Sr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Brooke Harter Sr. is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Brooke Harter Sr. was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Allendale Police Department are honored on badge.nw.