Roll of Honor
Johnny Orville Harris
Incident
Police Officer Johnny Harris was shot and fatally wounded and his partner was critically wounded while responding to a man with gun call at a local residence. A third officer shot and wounded the suspect. Officer Harris died at a local hospital the following day. Officer Harris' partner, the department's first female officer, recovered from her wounds. The suspect, an ex-convict, was convicted of murder. He died in prison on September 15th, 1976. The shooting occurred on Officer Harris' 25th birthday. Officer Harris had served with the Muskegon Heights Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-3BC1B680- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Harris gave the Muskegon Heights Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Muskegon Heights community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Harris.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Johnny Orville Harris 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 97,756 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 59.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Johnny Orville Harris's cause is highlighted.
How Johnny Orville Harris Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Johnny Orville Harris is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Johnny Orville Harris was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Muskegon Heights Police Department are honored on badge.nw.