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Chief of Police

Pierre A. "Pete" Harnois

Westbrook Police Department — Westbrook, ME

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 14, 1959

Age 32

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 94 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Chief Pierre Harnois was shot and killed during a gun battle which lasted five hours after responding to the scene of a man distraught over his finances. The suspect also killed his wife and seriously wounded two Maine State Police troopers before killing himself. Chief Harnois was a United States Army veteran of WWII. He had served with the Westbrook Police Department for 8 years and had previously served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 2 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-ME-8D209658
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.
Chief of Police Harnois gave the Westbrook Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Westbrook 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 Westbrook Police Department

Location Westbrook, ME

Platform Identity wpd.cumberland.me.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 14, 1959

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

Pierre A. "Pete" Harnois served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Chief of Police Pierre A. "Pete" Harnois 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 ME, 43 of 102 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.2% of this state's fallen. That is 12 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Westbrook Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Westbrook Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

ME — Statewide

of 102 officers

42.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Pierre A. "Pete" Harnois's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Pierre A. "Pete" Harnois Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Pierre A. "Pete" Harnois is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Pierre A. "Pete" Harnois was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Westbrook Police Department are honored on badge.nw.