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Patrol Officer

Walter B. Harris

Princeton Borough Police Department — Princeton, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch February 2, 1946

Age 31

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 82 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrol Officer Walter Harris was shot and killed while responding to the sounds of gunfire at a social club near his home on John Street. Upon arriving at the location he was shot and killed. Three subjects were arrested and charged in connection with his murder. Two, ages 19 and 20, were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 to 30 years. One was paroled in 1952. The other was paroled in 1957. In 1968 he shot and killed a man in New York City. He was arrested after a shoot-out with two New York Transit police officers. He was convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to prison, and released in 1981. Officer Harris had served with the Princeton Borough Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-1E7345F4
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.
Patrol Officer Harris gave the Princeton Borough Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Princeton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Harris.

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

Agency

Department Princeton Borough Police Department

Location Princeton, NJ

Platform Identity pbpd.mercer.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 2, 1946

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Luger

Offender Sentenced to 30 years

Patrol Officer Walter B. 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Princeton Borough Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% 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. Walter B. Harris'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 Walter B. Harris 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

Sentenced to 30 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter B. Harris is highlighted in Feb.

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. Walter B. Harris was killed by handgun; luger.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518