Harrison County Sheriff’s Office honors fallen deputy

HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office honored the fallen with an annual ceremony Tuesday morning.

Deputies spent the morning paying tribute to Deputy Earl Philips at Floral Hills Cemetery in Gulfport. Deputy Philips was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop in 1973.

Sheriff Matt Haley spoke to WXXV, explaining why this yearly memorial service is so important. “We make sure he is not forgotten. Each day, these officers go to work not knowing if they will come home. That’s something that never goes away, something they have to deal with. I continue to thank them each year for allowing us to do this and for them showing up. They tell the story every year because it is different people who show up for this. It’s important to hear the officer’s story.”

Deputy Philips is buried next to his wife at the cemetery.