Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Walter Harris was shot and killed as he and his deputies were raiding a liquor still near Texarkana.
His killer surrendered to the Little River County sheriff five days later. On December 11th, 1931, the 19-year-old subject was convicted of Sheriff Harris' murder and sentenced to life. On April 27th, 1935, he escaped with another prisoner from Tucker Prison Farm in Jefferson County. Three weeks later, he was shot and wounded in the shoulder by officers in Idabel, Oklahoma, when they attempted to rob the Idabel National Bank. He died in the McCurtain County Jail from traumatic pneumonia caused by the bullet wound three days later.
Sheriff Harris had served with the Miller County Sheriff's Office for 30 years and as Sheriff for seven months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-A0ACF5DB- 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.
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Tributes
30 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Harris gave the Miller County Sheriff's Office 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Texarkana community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Harris.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Walter S. Harris 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Miller County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter S. Harris's cause is highlighted.
How Walter S. Harris Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter S. Harris is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter S. Harris was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Miller County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
