Robert B. Harris

Alexandria Police Department — Alexandria, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 11, 1948

Age 22

Tour of Duty

The Vigil Panel 84 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 16

Incident

Private Robert Harris was shot and killed while making a routine check near a restaurant at the intersection of North Washington Street and Montgomery Street. He had interrupted a burglar at the back door of the business when he was shot. One year later a man in Richmond was overheard confessing to the crime. He was indicted for the officer's murder but first faced prison for a murder elsewhere. The suspect went to trial more than 20 years later, but his confession was ruled inadmissible and the charge was dismissed. Private Harris, who served with the U.S. Air Force in WWII, had been with the Alexandria Police Department for only 19 days.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and infant son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-FF863033
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Private Harris served with the Alexandria Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Alexandria community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Alexandria Police Department

Location Alexandria, VA

Platform Identity apd.alexandria.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 11, 1948

Tour of Duty

Age 22

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Charges dismissed

Military Service

Robert B. Harris served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Private Robert 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Alexandria Police Department, 13 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.5% of this agency's fallen.

Alexandria Police Department

of 17 officers

76.5% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious