Detective James Harvey

Syracuse Police Department

Date of Death: July 31, 1893

In the summer of 1893, Syracuse detectives were investigating a series of downtown burglaries and identified three suspicious strangers frequenting a local restaurant. On July 31, 1893, off‑duty Detective James Harvey responded when the restaurant reported two of the men had returned. With no other detectives available, he volunteered and arrested brothers Lucius and Charles Wilson. While escorting them toward the station, Charles tripped Harvey and Lucius drew a revolver, fatally shooting Detective James Harvey. Lucius was captured nearby; Charles fled but was later arrested in Buffalo. Lucius was executed the following April, and Charles served a prison term for the murder. A Civil War veteran and former Chief of Police, Detective Harvey was 58 and is recognized as the first Syracuse Police Department officer killed in the line of duty.