Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

„Proszę przyjmijcie wyrazy najszczerszego 
współczucia i żalu.
Wiem że nikt i nic nie wypełni już tej luki 
w Waszych sercach,
lecz pamiętajcie że nie umiera ten 
kto trwa w pamięci bliskich. 
Przeznaczenie odebrało Cię 
zbyt szybko rodzinie i przyjaciołom,
ale nigdy nie odbierze Cię 
naszej pamięci i naszym sercom.”

Sierżant Policji w Stanie Spoczynku Jace
Wydział Kryminalny Polska

May 7, 2023

Brother you we’re gonna too soon from us I enjoyed the times we had getting bad guys off the street. You loved being a State Trooper more than anything it was for sure your destiny and your passion. I can still remember every time you seen me you would always ask if I was ready to go to patrol school lol I wish I would have. The last time I seen you you told me to call you that you had something to talk to me about guess i will never know till I see you again. Mississippi Highway Patrol, The Citizens of Madison County, your family and everyone that has ever known you was lucky to know you. Rest easy brother we’ll hold the line from here. See you soon bro

James Jackson

February 4, 2022

My brother, dear God, please not my brother. I have lost brothers in blue before but NEVER a man I’ve looked in his eyes and physically bled with. Never a man who I have shared deep laughter with, life stories with, hard conversations with, straight up cried with. I have never lost a teammate. I have never lost a classmate this way. I have never lost one of my closest friends, a Trooper who deserved to wear this d*** patch on his shoulder more than I EVER will. To say that Trooper John Martin Harris didn’t earn every single stitch in that blue and gray uniform - that any Trooper would lay down their lives for - would be a flat out lie. I have never met a man who deserved my respect more than he because he earned it.

If you’ve never been to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, training academy, me telling you it’s the roughest thing you’ll ever experience in your life just won’t resonate the same. It just won’t sink in. It just won’t do the school justice. To put it into perspective, 134 men and 6 women started my class. Most young, most extremely healthy, most in the best physical shape of their lives, most without any prior injury. I was 23 years old. John Harris was 40 years old, with 21 hard years of experience as a police officer and a survivor of two gunshot wounds from two separate officer involved shootings. hell, Harris still had a bullet lodged inside of his hip. Harris caught absolute hell in patrol school but he completed every single exercise, every single repetition, every single mile, and then some. He made it look so d*** easy when I was feeling sorry for myself. John Harris refused to quit despite having every viable excuse to do so. He earned my respect long before graduation but he was one of ONLY 57 that I had the absolute honor to earn the title of Trooper alongside. He was my friend. He was my ride or die on the interdiction team. I’ll never forget the time John Harris, my own d*** teammate, spiked my patrol car during a 151 MPH pursuit. Spikes went flying at least 70 feet in the air and Harris left them right in the middle of the road because my car went down and he knew I needed him. Harris was right there with me snatching 5 bad guys out at gunpoint and laughing about it afterwards. Harris was the person I called when I needed someone to walk into the depths of hell and fight with me or just someone to talk to & express my feelings to.

But man if he could see me now, crying over him, he’d tell me to tighten up. Get over it, stop being so soft. He’d look at me and say “Paige, are you crying? hell no, not over me you ain’t” and you’d find a way to make me laugh. I’m so upset Harris! Because from day one I always asked you why the hell would you start all over when you had enough time to retire! You would always say “man, I love it. I love it. I’m not retiring anytime soon” and you meant it. You loved this patch ten times more than any other man who’s ever worn it.

We shouldn’t be having to do this. There shouldn’t be a funeral procession right now, with a sea of blue lights, hundreds of cars, and thousands of people waving flags honoring your name. Our state flag shouldn’t be ordered at half staff. We SHOULDN’T be having to do this. Not for you. Not now bro. Troopers don’t die, that was day one week one stuff Harris! A lesson we all learned and believed with all of our hearts.

When I got the call, I straight blacked out. Hurt so badly I just wanted to scream and yell and curse. It still doesn’t even feel real, I had just stood next to you days ago. You, Beard and I made plans man! Plans to come stay with you and burn up YOUR highway. I mean it’s just not fair that I’ve lost one of my best friends. I want to question God and ask him why, why now? Why Harris? What about his family? Why take my brother from me when I need him? His kids, man, his kids need him. I want to be selfish, I want to understand the things that I do not understand. I want to stop hurting. I want to stop crying. I want for one more time to hear Harris say “that’s a fact” but I know God has a plan beyond my comprehension. I wish I could share every memory I have of you so everyone would understand why you meant so d*** much to so many people.

Harris, I love you brother. I’m so very sorry that I wasn’t there working with you this week. To Kate, John loved you so so so very much. So much that I don’t think words could even begin to make you fathom the amount of love he had for you. We would talk on the phone or in person when he came to the Coast and he would go on and on about how much he loved his family, about how he wanted us to get together more. I’m so sorry that we didn’t capitalize on that sooner. He would always say he “ran the house” but we both knew that wasn’t the truth. When you called he always changed his tune from smoking and joking to that of a family man checking in on his wife and kids. I’m sure you heard his nickname was Shirts, do you know how he got it? We gave him hell because on a week long detail up on I-22, my man said he had to go back to the hotel to change his shirt. A few HOURS later we get to looking and I see his car laid back in the wind headed south towards Madison County. I called him laughing and asked him if he left his d*** shirts at the house and he said he had to get home to his family a day early. I now have two of his shirts hanging up in my patrol car and I wish so badly that I could give them to him, see him wearing them again standing in front of me. To Coop and Parker, I promise you will never have to wonder how much your father loved you for his brothers will fill the gap. You won’t understand it now but every single thing he did was to help you grow big and strong and smart. He was so proud of you both. Your daddy was the biggest, strongest, bravest superhero I’ve ever known - just like you both always thought.

Harris was a jam up Trooper, a d*** good drug interdictor, a hell OF AN ENFORCER, and an absolute friend to all. We must carry on that tradition.

I love you brother. I promise you will not be forgotten. I will see you on the other side my dear friend. Until we meet again there C-45.

Rest In Peace Mississippi State Trooper John Martin Harris Z-21
End of Watch : May 28, 2021

Trooper Kyle Paige
Mississippi Highway Patrol

August 5, 2021

The true measure of a person
is not found in the
might of their arm,
their wealth
or their power –
it is found in the strength
of their character.

There is no greater testimony to
ones character, than ones
willingness to sacrifice all,
in the noble quest of
providing protection to all
whom they serve.
Author Unknown

Javier Cornejo
Police Officer, Retired
City of Milwaukee Police Department
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June 27, 2021

John you earned the name Super Man during our encounter in Friarspoint Mississippi. Rest In Peace my brother.

Lieutenant Napleon Brewer
US Dept of Veterans Affairs Police

June 26, 2021

My heart goes out to the family, both blood and blue, after this sudden loss. May you be in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your service, dedication and ultimate sacrifice to the citizens of the community. RIP.

Officer Theodore Bedell
Jefferson Police Department GA

June 16, 2021

Thank you Trooper Harris for your service and sacrifice to the people of Mississippi, it will never be forgotten. My deepest heartfelt condolences and prayers to all of your family, friends, and brothers and sisters at the Mississippi Highway Patrol. God bless you brother and may you forever Rest in Peace.

Sergeant Craig Danielson
West Fargo Police Department
West Fargo, ND

June 12, 2021

We will remember.

Miss Eleanore Trupkiewicz
Civilian Supporter of Law Enforcement

June 5, 2021

Rest in Paradise Brother Trooper. Thank you for your service. Prayers to your family and co-workers.

M/Sgt retired Lisa Ditzler
Illinois State Police D-16

June 4, 2021

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Rest In Peace Trooper Harris. Our deepest heartfelt condolences to all of your family, friends, and brothers and sisters at Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

Postal Inspector Scott Horne
US Postal Inspection Service

June 3, 2021

In Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO!

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whose blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell

Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell (Retired)
Richland County Sheriff's Dept.
Columbia, SC

June 3, 2021

I would like to offer my condolences to the family and friends of Trooper Harris. I am so sorry for your loss. Trooper Harris’s service and sacrifice will not be forgotten. I am praying for your comfort and peace.

Deborah C.
Wife, Mother, Aunt of LEOs
Maryland

June 2, 2021

Rest In Peace Brother

Sgt Benjamín Rodríguez Bermúdez
Puerto Rico Police Departament

June 2, 2021

Rest in Peace Trooper Harris. May the Lord grant your family, friends and co-workers peace during this very difficult time. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Deputy Parole Administrator Howard Wykes
Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections

June 2, 2021

RIP Trooper Harris you have served your country well. Prayer's for your family and your department. May God bless your family and department and hold them close and comfort them during this difficult time. Thank you for your service from a retired police officer.

Cpl. Sandy Sowell
Retiref from Lancaster Police Department Lancaster, South Carolina

June 2, 2021

RIP Brother. The many times it could have been me or other of our brothers and sisters. Knowing that, how painful it is for us to receive this news and how though we grieve we must reach out and be there for the family. Rest easy Trooper

TFC P.M Hanners Ret
Ga State Patrop

June 1, 2021

On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, our thoughts and prayers are with the immediate family of Trooper John Harris and the extended law enforcement family of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi.


End of Watch Friday, May 28, 2021.


Rest in Peace brother and watch over us. We will protect and serve from here on in your honor.

I fight not for glory or fame, for they are momentary. I fight for those who can't. I fight for Justice. I fight for the oppressed and the down trodden. And if I should lose my life for these just causes, then I have no regrets, For I serve to protect the innocent. It matters not where or when, for evil knows no boundaries. Be it fire, flood, or the threat of tyranny, I will not flee. Justice is my weapon. Faith is my shield. Hope is my armor. Cry not at my passing, for it was my Honor to fight for you. Shed not tears of sorrow, But tears of joy, for now, I stand with God.

By Jon F. Hooper

"Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

June 1, 2021

Condolences to the family,friends and fellow Officers from Blue Knights NC II

Chaplain Blue Knights NC II Frank Spear
Blue Knights NC II

June 1, 2021

The National Police Wives Association would like to extend their heartfelt prayers to the family of Trooper Harris and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol during this time. Thank you, Trooper Harris, for your service.

National Police Wives Association

June 1, 2021

Rest in peace brother

Douglas J. Maykowski
Fraternal Order Of Police Central Macomb Lodge #187 Macomb County MI.

June 1, 2021

On behalf of the Klamath County Sherriff's Office in Klamath Falls Oregon, we send our sincerest sympathy in the recent loss of your Trooper, John Harris, in the line of duty. It is always a huge loss when a fellow Trooper makes the ultimate sacrifice. His bravery and courage to protect and serve your community has not gone unnoticed.

Sheriff Chris Kaber
Klamath County Sheriff's Office

June 1, 2021

Thank you for your service, brother. RIP.

Lieutenant Brian J. Wills II
Oswego County Sheriff's Office
New York

June 1, 2021

Thank you for your dedicated service. Thoughts are with your family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.

SDO Perentesis
York Regional Police

June 1, 2021

Praying for peace and comfort today and in the days ahead. With deepest sympathy,

Rita Rocker
Deputy Executive Director
Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles

June 1, 2021

RIP, well done thou good & faithful servant. May God bless and comfort your wife and children, as well as your brothers & sisters with MHP.

Mike Nixon
High Point, NC Police Dept, Retired

June 1, 2021