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John Wyatt Harris
Agency patch
Policeman

John Wyatt Harris

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch February 1, 1946
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 183 · Column 1 · Line 8 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 239

Incident

Policeman Jack Harris succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day during a raid of an illegal gambling game at a home at 743 Castellar Street. He was assisting the Vice Squad during the raid and was guarding the back door of the home with other officers. A subject who was providing security for the game inside the home fired several shots into the air and then one shot through the door as detectives made entry into the home. The shot he fired through the door struck Policeman Harris in the abdomen and punctured his kidney. Policeman Harris was transported to Georgia Receiving Hospital where he passed away the following day. The subject who shot him was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one to 10 years in prison.

Survivors

Policeman Harris was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policeman Harris served with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Harris.

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

Agency

Department Los Angeles Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 1, 1946
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 35. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman John Wyatt Harris

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch February 1, 1946

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-E

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