Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Haralson and Trooper James Young, of the Georgia State Patrol, were shot and killed by a suspect who had managed to gain control of Trooper Young's service weapon. Trooper Young had arrested the man and brought him to the Cordele Police Department for a breath test when the suspect attacked the trooper. The suspect was later apprehended and sentenced to life but served only 14 years. Sergeant Haralson had been with the agency for 15 years and was survived by his wife and three children, one of whom went on to become a law enforcement officer as well. The younger Haralson spent 11 years as a police officer before being tapped by Governor Joe Frank Harris in 1988 to serve as sheriff of Crisp County. Sergeant Haralson's son served in law enforcement for 37 years and held a number of executive positions in the Georgia law enforcement community including tenure as president of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, which named him the 2010 Georgia Sheriff of the Year.
Survivors
Sergeant Haralson had been with the agency for 15 years and was survived by his wife and three children, one of whom went on to become a law enforcement officer as well.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-59B65CD4- 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.
Sergeant Haralson gave the Cordele Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cordele community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Haralson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Willis R. Haralson 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 Cordele Police Dept., 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willis R. Haralson's cause is highlighted.
How Willis R. Haralson Compares
Offender Outcome
Served 14 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willis R. Haralson is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willis R. Haralson was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Cordele Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
