Levi Harness

Scott County Sheriff's Office — Huntsville, TN

Felonious

End of Watch February 11, 1962

Age 53

The Vigil Panel 97 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Deputy Harness and Constable Alvin Jeffers, of the Scott County Fifth District Constable's Office, were shot and killed as they and two other officers attempted to serve warrants on a man and his wife near Winfield.

When they entered the darkened house, the husband and his son opened fire on the officers. Constable Jeffers was struck in the chest and another officer was grazed in the head.

The two remaining officers took up positions on either side of the house, as the wounded officer drove Constable Jeffers to a local hospital where he died later that evening.

Deputy Harness took up a position in the front of the house and the second deputy took up a position in the rear of the house. After several minutes, the suspects opened fire again, striking Deputy Harness three times, killing him. They then fled the scene. Both men turned themselves in several days later.

Both men, the 70-year-old father and his 35-year-old son, were convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to 21 years for each conviction to run concurrently. The son was paroled in 1971. His father died in 1970.

We were proud to know you then and were still proud to know you today. Thank you sir. Rest in the arms of our lord

Jerry Fellow citizen February 11th, 2022

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Harness served with the Scott County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Harness.

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

Agency

Department Scott County Sheriff's Office

Location Huntsville, TN

Platform Identity scso.scott.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 11, 1962

Age 53

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Apprehended

Deputy Sheriff Levi Harness 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Scott County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Scott County Sheriff's Office

of 8 officers

100% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious