Roll of Honor

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Police Chief

John Brooke Harter, Sr.

Allendale Police Department — Allendale, SC

Felonious

End of Watch August 31, 1913

Age 40

The Vigil Panel 28 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Police Chief John Harter was shot and killed by a man and his son as he stood on the loading dock at the train depot in nearby Lena.

A witness stated that the father walked up to Chief Harter and asked for a pistol Chief Harter had taken from him earlier. When Chief Harter refused to return the gun, both attacked him and then shot him.

Both were arrested and convicted of manslaughter. The father was sentenced to ten years and his 18-year-old son to five years at Hampton County Public Works.

Chief Harter was survived by his wife and several children.

He is buried in Harter Cemetery, Allendale County, South Carolina.

Survivors

Chief Harter was survived by his wife and several children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-9B6EB7A9
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.
Police Chief Harter served with the Allendale Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Allendale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Chief Harter.

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

Agency

Department Allendale Police Department

Location Allendale, SC

Platform Identity apd.allendale.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1913

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Apprehended

Police Chief John Brooke Harter, Sr. 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Allendale Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% 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. John Brooke Harter, Sr.'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 John Brooke Harter, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Brooke Harter, Sr. is highlighted in Aug.

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. John Brooke Harter, Sr. was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518