Harry Lee Harris
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Harry Lee Harris

Accident
End of Watch March 28, 1950
Age 63
Tour of Duty 29 yrs
The Vigil Panel 86 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sherry Harry Harris was killed in an automobile crash while searching for two suspects who had robbed a bank in Waverly, Virginia. After an all night search he was driving his patrol car on U.S. 460 when he quickly made a U-turn three miles east of Waverly. His vehicle then struck a concrete bridge railing over Coppahaunk Swamp. Deputy Harris was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. On July 29th, 1921, Deputy Harris had been shot and seriously wounded while serving as town sergeant of Wakefield, Virginia. He was attempting to arrest five hoboes on a freight a train. At the time, it was believed he would not survive, but he made a full recovery. Deputy Harris had served in law enforcement for over 29 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-5E00486F
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

29 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Harris gave the Sussex County Sheriff's Office 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Sussex community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Harris.

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

Agency

Location Sussex, VA
Platform Identity scso.sussex.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 28, 1950
Tour of Duty 29 yrs
Age 63
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Deputy Sheriff Harry Lee Harris is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.

At Sussex County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Sussex County Sheriff's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% Accident
VA — Statewide
203
of 654 officers
31% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harry Lee 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 Harry Lee Harris Compares

Age at End of Watch
63
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
29
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Harry Lee Harris is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Sussex County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.