Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Harold B. Harless

Riverbank Police Department — Riverbank, CA

Felonious

End of Watch October 17, 1965

Age 42

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Badge 26

The Vigil Panel 100 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Harold Harless was killed when his patrol car was struck by while he was conducting a roadblock on Patterson Road and Palmer Avenue. The other vehicle had struck a California Highway Patrol car and was being pursued by the trooper. During the pursuit, the driver turned off the car's headlights. He struck Patrolman Harless' patrol car while traveling at an estimated 100 mph. The 28-year-old suspect was critically injured and charged with manslaughter. Patrolman Harless had served with the Riverbank Police Department for 7 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-BA697394
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.
Patrolman Harless gave the Riverbank Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverbank community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Harless.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Riverbank Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Riverbank, Stanislaus County, CA

Platform Identity rpd.stanislaus.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 17, 1965

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 42

Badge Number 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Patrolman Harold B. Harless is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,588 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 0.9 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

Riverbank Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,588 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harold B. Harless's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,095 (31%)

Illness

3,038 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How Harold B. Harless Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harold B. Harless is highlighted in Oct.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harold B. Harless was killed by automobile.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909