Harry Wilson
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

Harry Wilson

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Felonious
End of Watch July 21, 1919
Age 29
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 622
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant Harry Wilson was shot and killed while he and his partner responded to a report of a person shooting from a window at 220 G Street, NW, during the 1919 Race Riots. As the detectives reached the second floor of the home Sergeant Wilson was shot in the heart by the suspect who was hiding under a bed. Sergeant Wilson's partner was able to return fire and wounded the 17-year-old female suspect. The suspect was taken into custody, and convicted, but was released in 1921. Home Defense Officer Isaac Halbfinger was shot and killed in a separate incident during the riots the following the day. Several other officers were also shot and wounded during the riots. Sergeant Wilson had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child and is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Washington, DC.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Detective Sergeant Wilson gave the Metropolitan Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Wilson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 21, 1919
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 622
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Harry is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Harry was 29. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Harry had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Harry among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Sergeant Harry Wilson

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch July 21, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-E

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