San Diego Police Department, California
End of Watch: Sunday, April 3, 1927
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: 22
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 3, 1927
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Never apprehended
Detective Charles Harris was killed when he and his partner were ambushed by a hidden gunman behind the Roosevelt School in Balboa Park.
He and a female detective, along with a second set of detectives, were posing as couples while staking out the area due to recent robberies. They were parked in a car when a subject approached, shined a light inside, and immediately opened fire. Detective Harris returned fire as the suspect ran away but did not hit him. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The murder of Detective Harris was never solved.
Detective Harris had served with the San Diego Police Department for 17 years. He was survived by his wife and a 10-year-old niece.