Charles L. Harrison
Agency patch
Patrolman

Charles L. Harrison

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN
Accident
End of Watch May 6, 1982
Age 37
Tour of Duty 14 yrs 11 mo
Badge 151
The Vigil Panel 125 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Charles Harrison was killed in a motorcycle crash on I-240 approximately one half-mile east of the Airways exit. Patrolman Harrison was in stopped traffic when he observed a patrol car and a motorcycle officer pulled to the side of the road on a traffic stop. The officers had an intoxicated man stopped. As Patrolman Harrison made his way through the traffic the vehicle in front of him jammed on its breaks, causing Patrolman Harrison to strike it. When he hit the car Patrolman Harrison and his motorcycle were thrown into the air. Patrolman Harrison fell to the ground and his motorcycle landed on top of him. A passing doctor stopped to help Patrolman Harrison. He was transported to Baptist Hospital where he died from his injuries. Patrolman Harrison had served with the Memphis Police for almost 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, son, three step-daughters, and his parents.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Harrison gave the Memphis Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Harrison.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Memphis, Shelby County, TN
Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 6, 1982
Tour of Duty 14 yrs 11 mo
Age 37
Badge Number 151
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Charles is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1982, 70 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 14.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Memphis Police Department has 94 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Charles L. Harrison

Memphis Police Department · End of Watch May 6, 1982

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W

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