Thomas Clyde Harrison, Jr.
Agency patch
Sergeant

Thomas Clyde Harrison, Jr.

Felonious
End of Watch January 15, 1993
Age 38
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Badge 641
The Vigil Panel 138 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Thomas Harrison was shot and killed at the local Belk department store inside Prince of Orange Mall at 2390 Chestnut Street NE while attempting to question three subjects who had passed forged checks. Unbeknownst to Sergeant Harrison, the suspects had kidnapped a businessman two days earlier and dumped his body in Orangeburg County. As Sergeant Harrison asked one of the subjects questions about their identity, the man pulled out a handgun. As he pulled the weapon out, it discharged. The round struck the floor and ricocheted into Sergeant Harrison's abdomen. The suspect then fired five more rounds at Sergeant Harrison at point-blank range, killing him. The suspect was arrested, convicted of Sergeant Harrison's murder, and sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection on May 7, 2009. Sergeant Harrison had served with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety for ten years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-D83FFD0F
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 Harrison gave the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Harrison.

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

Agency

Location Orangeburg, SC
Platform Identity odps.orangeburg.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1993
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 641
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber
Offender Executed in 2009

Sergeant Thomas Clyde Harrison, Jr. 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%.

At Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Orangeburg Department of Public Safety
4
of 4 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. Thomas Clyde Harrison, Jr.'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 Thomas Clyde Harrison, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 2009

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Clyde Harrison, Jr. is highlighted in Jan.

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. Thomas Clyde Harrison, Jr. was killed by handgun; .357 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location