Fellow police officer remembers Detective Phillip Harrison; dead from cancer at 52

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)-Friends, family, and law enforcement are grieving the loss of 52-year-old Lexington Police Detective Phillip Harrison. He was a 19-year veteran of the force. The department says he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late March. I spoke with sergeant Billy Richmond who knew detective Garrison well. Early on in their careers, they were once partners on the US Marshall’s fugitive task force. Richmond says Harrison was an officer’s officer, very self-less and always about helping out other officers and the community. Sergeant Richmond says news about his passing is bittersweet.

“He struggled . This was a struggle for anybody. And to see our friend going through what he went through is somewhat a relief.”

Detective Harrison leaves behind his wife Jana and a 12-year-old daughter. His funeral will be this Friday at 2pm at Southland Christian Church, with a visitation starting at 10am.

There has been tremendous community outpouring of support since Harrison’s cancer diagnosis. Friends are raising money for family, and to secure the educational future of his daughter. Donation information can be found on his gofundme campaign page.