Harry Charles Chapin

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission — Tallahassee, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch November 5, 1972

Age 49

Tour of Duty 22 yrs

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Sergeant Harry Chapin was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three men for hunting at night. As Sergeant Chapin and three other officers attempted to arrest the suspects in a wooded area off State Road 159 in Gadsden County, they were met with shotgun blasts. Two suspects were apprehended at the scene. The third suspect was apprehended at his home a few hours later. All three suspects were brothers, ages 30, 32, and 34. The youngest suspect, who fired the fatal shot, was convicted of second-degree murder. Of the other two, one was convicted of manslaughter, and the other was acquitted. Sergeant Chapin was in a similar situation in 1958, but the bullet lodged in his heavy-duty belt. Sergeant Chapin was a World War II veteran and served with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission for 22 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-7934D53C
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 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.
Sergeant Chapin gave the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tallahassee community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission

Location Tallahassee, FL

Platform Identity fgfwfc.leon.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 5, 1972

Tour of Duty 22 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Convicted of murder

Military Service

Harry Charles Chapin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Harry Charles Chapin 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 5 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission

of 15 officers

33.3% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious