Roll of Honor
Lenard Harris
Incident
Location: California Incident Date: Tuesday, May 15, 1894 Weapon: Handgun; .44 caliber Offender: Executed in 1895
Chief of Detectives Lenard Harris was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three men who were robbing the Wells Fargo Express office at a railroad depot in Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County, California.
After learning of the planned robbery the previous day, Chief Harris went to the location with another railroad detective and a constable from Santa Cruz and placed the office under surveillance by hiding inside a boxcar. At approximately 8:00 pm, one suspect entered the office while two other suspects waited outside on the platform.
As Chief Harris entered the office, he was shot twice in the abdomen by that suspect who fled the scene, but was captured four days later. A gunbattle ensued outside, with the second suspect surrendering and the third escaping into the darkness.
Chief Harris was taken to a nearby motel to have his wounds treated. The following morning, he was taken by train to his home in Oakland where he lapsed into a coma and died shortly before midnight.
The suspect who shot Chief Harris was convicted of robbery and murder and sentenced to death. On June 7th, 1895, he was executed by hanging at San Quentin State Prison.
Chief of Detectives Harris had served with the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department for 18 years and was a veteran of the Mexican-American War. He had previously served as a constable and deputy sheriff in Sacramento and as a detective for the Central Pacific Railroad. Chief Harris was survived by his wife and two sons. He was buried in Historic City Cemetery in Sacramento.
One of his sons was killed at age 25 in an accident while working as a brakeman for the Northern Pacific Railroad, while his other son later served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad as a special police officer and was killed in the line of duty on July 15th, 1919.
Survivors
Chief Harris was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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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.
Chief of Detectives Harris gave the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department 38 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Lenard Harris served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Chief of Detectives Lenard 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, 15 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lenard Harris's cause is highlighted.
How Lenard Harris Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lenard Harris is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lenard Harris was killed by handgun; .44 caliber.
Incident Location
Military Service
Lenard Harris served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
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His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
