Harry C. Gibson

Columbus Police Dept. — Columbus, GA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 6, 1943

Age 33

The Vigil Panel 79 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 25

Incident

Officer Harry Gibson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an AWOL soldier from Ft. Benning. The soldier and another man with him both produced handguns and fatally shot Officer Gibson. Both suspects were later shot and killed by other officers. Officer Gibson was a United States Navy veteran. He was survived by his wife, four children, mother, sister, and brother. Officer Gibson's father, Nelson Gibson, was shot and killed in the line of duty on September 12, 1915, while also serving as a police officer for the Columbus Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four children, mother, sister, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-172F7F53
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.
Police Officer Gibson served with the Columbus Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus 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 Columbus Police Dept.

Location Columbus, GA

Platform Identity cpd.muscogee.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1943

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

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

Police Officer Harry C. Gibson 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Columbus Police Dept., 19 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.1% of this agency's fallen.

Columbus Police Dept.

of 26 officers

73.1% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious