Georgia police officer shot, killed during his first shift

ATLANTA >> A massive manhunt was underway after a young officer was shot and killed early Saturday outside his Georgia police station, officials said.

Dylan Harrison, 26, was working his first shift as a part-time officer with the Alamo Police Department when he was gunned down outside the station about 1 a.m., GBI spokeswoman Natalie Ammons said at a Saturday afternoon news conference.

Harrison, who lived in Laurens County, is survived by his wife and their 6-month-old child, officials said.

A manhunt is underway for 43-year-old Damien Anthony

Ferguson, who goes by “Luke,” according to the GBI. A “Blue Alert” was issued for the Alamo man and a $17,500 reward is being offered for information leading to his capture. Such alerts are issued when a suspect accused of killing or seriously injuring a law enforcement officer remains at large.

“Officer Harrison was a part-time Alamo police officer working his first shift with the department last night,” Ammons said, adding that he was also a full-time Oconee Drug Task Force agent in nearby Dodge County.

Officials did not release any details about what led to the deadly shooting.

Harrison had been in law enforcement since 2018.

Tributes for the slain police officer poured in Saturday morning as the news of Harrison’s death spread.

“Our sincerest thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the family, friends and coworkers of Officer Dylan Harrison who was killed in the line of duty last night in Alamo,” Telfair County Sheriff Sim Davidson said in a Facebook post. “We are sincerely grateful for his service.”

Harrison was the first Alamo officer killed in the line of duty, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page that tracks law enforcement deaths. In January, Alamo police Officer Arturo Villegas died from COVID-19 complications.

At least five Georgia officers have been killed in the line of duty this year.