Harry W. Vosper

Seattle Police Department — Seattle, WA

Felonious

End of Watch July 21, 1949

Age 42

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 85 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 59

Incident

Detective Harry Vosper was shot and killed by a barricaded suspect at 311 22nd Avenue. The suspect had assaulted his wife and shot two neighbors because he was angry over a court decision not to rescind his $50 monthly support payment to his estranged wife. The suspect exchanged gunfire with officers. When he refused to surrender, tear gas was shot inside the house. The suspect then ran out of the house shooting. One of the officers was shot and Detective Vosper stepped in front of that officer to shield him from further gunfire, when the suspect shot and killed him. The suspect was shot and killed by other officers. Detective Vosper had served with the Seattle Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-DF78906D
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.
Detective Vosper gave the Seattle Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Vosper.

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

Agency

Department Seattle Police Department

Location Seattle, WA

Platform Identity seatpd.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 21, 1949

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Detective Harry W. Vosper 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Seattle Police Department, 44 of 60 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.

Seattle Police Department

of 60 officers

73.3% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious