Clyde William Harrison
Agency: Kansas City Police Department, MO
Officer Harrison joined the Kansas City Police Department on October 8, 1942, serving a total of 9 years, and worked on the crime prevention patrol for two years.
On December 20, 1951 at 10:40 pm, Officers Clyde W. Harrison, 43, and Richard J. Staab, 37, were attempting to stop a car that had just made an illegal left turn, at Truman and Oak. The officers pulled abreast the vehicle and Officer Staab ordered the two male occupants to pull to the side of the road when the men in the car fired on them. Officer Harrison was mortally wounded, dying on the way to the hospital from a gunshot wound to the left temple. Officer Staab injured, wounded in the shoulder during the incident was treated and released at the hospital.
Detectives discovered the abandoned suspect vehicle with bullet holes in the right passenger door window, 45 minutes after the shooting at 20th and Walnut Streets with footprints of two men leading away from the car in the snow. The car bore Michigan license plates. Detroit police suspected the vehicle might be associated with a suspect wanted for a double murder in Michigan. A cab driver contacted during the investigation advised police that he had picked up two men near the location where the car was abandoned and transported the men, who were unfamiliar with the area, to a hotel near 12th and Baltimore. A $1000 reward was offered for the men's arrest. Perry Nelson Smith was arrested and confessed to the shooting the same month on Christmas eve.
Officer Harrison was survived by his wife, Evelyn Harrison, and two children.
Reflections:
Obviously I never had a chance to meet Patrolman Harrison. He was killed 17 years before I was born. My father lived next door to him as a child and remembered him as "a kind and gentle man" who "was my friend". Evidently he talked to my dad quite often and let him sit in his "prowler car". My father recalls that they did in fact wind up catching Patrolman Harrison's killer. I'm going to contact the Kansas City PD and see if they have any further information. It's strange, finding out about this after all these years. I've been a cop for 14 years and I'm 35 years old, and this is the first time my dad and I have ever really talked about it. I appreciate the ODMP's efforts for all LEOs and their families. Keep up the good work!
TSgt. David Reeder
138TH SFS/Cherokee County (OK) SO
My dad was a radio operator for the Kansas City police department. His name was Pete J. Nikitouplos. He was a close friend of Clyde and talked of him quite often. I was at his funeral. I was 6 years old at the time, I will never forget it. I remember my dad helping Mr. Harrison's wife and the pain that poor woman had. My father is gone now. I hope they are together talking of old times.
Anonymous
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