Gary Harrison, 50, Phila. police officer
Gary Harrison was a rookie Philadelphia police officer when he was shot in the face while on duty in 1991.
Gary Harrison was a rookie Philadelphia police officer when he was shot in the face while on duty in 1991.
That night, he was visited in the hospital by then-Commissioner Willie Williams, and Officer Harrison told his boss, "Don't take me off the street," his brother recalled.
Mr. Harrison, 50, maintained that dedication to policing for more than 25 years and was still active on the force when he suddenly fell ill Sunday, April 3, with pneumonia while on vacation in New Orleans.
He died at Tulane Medical Center on Tuesday, April 5.
"Gary had a very distinct view of what's right and what's wrong," said his older brother and lone sibling, Claude E. Harrison 3rd. "And he was really drawn to protecting and helping people."
The current police commissioner, Richard Ross, served with Mr. Harrison.
"I met Gary over 20 years ago when we were both young police officers assigned to the Anti-Crime Team. He was a great cop and an absolute gentleman," Ross said.
"Gary was a hardworking officer. His tenacity and his professionalism were admired and appreciated by many," Ross said.
Mr. Harrison was born in the city and grew up in Northwest Philadelphia. He graduated from Germantown Academy, where he ran track and learned to speak Latin, in 1983, and attended Hampton University in Virginia, studying computer science.
He joined the Police Department in 1990 and served in the 14th District, on the Anti-Crime Team, the 22nd District Burglary Detail, then the Narcotics Strike Force.
During that last assignment, he was wounded again in the line of duty. He was shot in the leg by a drug suspect in 2001.
After that, he was assigned to Accident Investigations, where he investigated many high-profile cases.
Mr. Harrison loved to travel, including to New Orleans, his favorite vacation destination, his brother said. He enjoyed cooking, photography, and attending track-and-field events, especially the Penn Relays, his brother said.
Mr. Harrison is survived by his wife, Jerlyne, and stepchildren Alexa Trotter, Phil Trotter, and Jon Feamster. He also is survived by his parents, Claude Jr. and Shirley Harrison.
A viewing will be held at 8:30 a.m. Thursday with funeral services to follow at 10 a.m., at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, at 230 W. Coulter St., Philadelphia.
215-854-5983 @RobertMoran215