On Friday, May 12, a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was critically injured in a collision while responding as backup to a call in San Jacinto. The deputy, Brett Harris, 26, was assigned to the Hemet station. Harris suffered major injuries, including a catastrophic brain injury, and was in critical condition following the collision, which occurred at about 2:15 a.m. on Esplanade Avenue and State Street.
Unfortunately, on Sunday morning, May 15, the Sheriff’s Department announced that Harris had passed away. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the circumstances surrounding the collision and explore the impact of Harris’ tragic death on the community and his family.
The Collision
Harris was driving his Ford Explorer patrol SUV west on Esplanade Avenue when his vehicle collided with a Nissan Maxima being driven by a 54-year-old woman from Hemet, who was driving north on State Street. The intersection had traffic signals, and it is unclear who was at fault for the collision. After the collision, the SUV crashed into a light pole.
Harris was hit on the driver’s side of the vehicle and had to be cut out of the SUV by emergency responders. A second deputy, who had been accompanying Harris, injured his knee while trying to free Harris from the vehicle. The second deputy was treated at a hospital and released.
The civilian driver and a second passenger were also hospitalized, with injuries described as moderate and minor.
The Aftermath
Following the collision, Harris was rushed to a local hospital and underwent emergency treatment for his injuries. However, the Sheriff’s Department announced on Sunday morning that he had passed away. Harris’ survivors include his wife, parents, twin sister, and a brother. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Harris’ organs will be donated, and a procession in his honor is pending due to the organ donation process.
In the wake of Harris’ death, the community has rallied to show support for his family and the Sheriff’s Department. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco expressed his condolences, stating that “our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our own.”
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Recent Line-of-Duty Deaths
Harris’ death comes on the heels of several other line-of-duty deaths in the Sheriff’s Department. In January, Deputy Darnell Calhoun, 30, was shot and killed while responding to a call in Lakeland Village. This incident occurred just one week after a memorial service for Deputy Isaiah Cordero, 32, who was killed during a traffic stop in Jurupa Valley on December 29.
Harris’ collision occurred the same week that Bianco and members of the Riverside Sheriff’s Association, the deputies’ union, attended the National Peace Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. to honor Deputy Cordero.
During National Police Week, 556 new names of officers who died in the line of duty were added to the memorial. Those included 224 officers who died in 2022. Calhoun will be honored in 2024 because he was slain in 2023.
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Calhoun’s death will still be noted starting at 8:30 a.m. on May 20 at the Riverside County Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony at the Safe in His Arms monument in front of the Riverside police headquarters on Orange Street. The names of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Alejandro Flores-Banuelos, Riverside sheriff’s Correctional Lt. Steve Taylor, and Cordero will be added to the monument. Calhoun’s name will be added before the 2024 ceremony.
Conclusion
The death of Riverside County sheriff’s deputy Brett Harris is a tragedy that has deeply affected the community and the Sheriff’s Department.
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