July 17, 1975

Officer Gary Harl

On July 16, 1975 at approximately 11:00 p.m. Officer Gary Harl made a routine traffic stop at night for a simple traffic violation. Officer Harl and the driver of the motorcycle were talking in the front seat of Officer Harl's police car. The driver of the motorcycle suddenly reached toward the officer pointing a pistol at the officer's head and shot him one time.

Officer Harl was pronounced dead at the hospital about one hour later on July 17, 1975. Officer Harl did not know the motorcycle had just been stolen by the suspect. After a manhunt the suspect was found deceased from a self-inflicted gun shot wound.