Chief of Detectives Lenard Harris

Lenard Harris

Chief of Detectives Lenard Harris was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three men who were robbing the Wells Fargo Express office at a railroad depot in Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County, California.

After learning of the planned robbery the previous day, Chief Harris went to the location with another railroad detective and a constable from Santa Cruz and placed the office under surveillance by hiding inside a boxcar. At approximately 8:00 pm, one suspect entered the office while two other suspects waited outside on the platform.

As Chief Harris entered the office, he was shot twice in the abdomen by that suspect who fled the scene, but was captured four days later. A gunbattle ensued outside, with the second suspect surrendering and the third escaping into the darkness.

Chief Harris was taken to a nearby motel to have his wounds treated. The following morning, he was taken by train to his home in Oakland where he lapsed into a coma and died shortly before midnight.

The suspect who shot Chief Harris was convicted of robbery and murder and sentenced to death. On June 7th, 1895, he was executed by hanging at San Quentin State Prison.

Chief of Detectives Harris had served with the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department for 18 years and was a veteran of the Mexican-American War. He had previously served as a constable and deputy sheriff in Sacramento and as a detective for the Central Pacific Railroad. Chief Harris was survived by his wife and two sons. He was buried in Historic City Cemetery in Sacramento.

One of his sons was killed at age 25 in an accident while working as a brakeman for the Northern Pacific Railroad, while his other son later served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad as a special police officer and was killed in the line of duty on July 15th, 1919.