Charles R. Harris

San Diego Police Dept. — San Diego, CA

Felonious

End of Watch April 3, 1927

Age 51

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Badge 22

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 37

Incident

Detective Charles Harris was killed when he and his partner were ambushed by a hidden gunman behind the Roosevelt School in Balboa Park. He and a female detective, along with a second set of detectives, were posing as couples while staking out the area due to recent robberies. They were parked in a car when a subject approached, shined a light inside, and immediately opened fire. Detective Harris returned fire as the suspect ran away, but did not hit him. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The murder of Detective Harris was never solved. Detective Harris had served with the San Diego Police Department for 17 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and a 10-year-old niece.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-CC171EE9
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Harris gave the San Diego Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Harris.

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

Agency

Department San Diego Police Dept.

Location San Diego, CA

Platform Identity sdpd.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 3, 1927

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 51

Badge Number 22

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Never apprehended

Detective Charles R. 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 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At San Diego Police Dept., 27 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.1% of this agency's fallen.

San Diego Police Dept.

of 38 officers

71.1% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious