Arlington Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Thursday, July 17, 1975
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: 0256
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 16, 1975
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Officer Gary Harl succumbed to gunshot wounds he received when he stopped a man driving a stolen motorcycle.
Around 11:00 pm, Officer Harl made a routine traffic stop for a simple traffic violation. The driver of the motorcycle stopped in the parking lot of a convenience store near 1101 California Lane. Officer Harl requested back up and began talking with the motorcycle driver, who suddenly reached toward Officer Harl, pointing a gun at the officer's head. The subject shot him one time.
Officer Harl was pronounced dead at the hospital about one hour later. He was unaware the motorcycle had just been stolen by the suspect.
Texas Rangers assisted in the investigation and manhunt of the suspect, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound the following morning after being surrounded by officers.
Officer Harl was a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Arlington Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and brother.