On July 25, 1917, the grocery store at 1317 West Twenty-third Street was burglarized by Paul Scholz and his step-father, Adolph Patzenberger. Officers Harris W. West, Louis Fagan, John F. Schwaim, and Sam Moley responded to the call placed by concerned citizens in the area. West and Fagan captured the two men, and placed them in a small police car for temporary transportation. As they drove on Twenty-third Street, on their way to meet Scwaim and Moley - who were waiting with a patrol car to transport the prisoners to the station, the two men attacked the officers and jumped from the car as it neared Holly Street. Officer West shot Petzenberger in the back as he fled. Fagan then took over the pursuit of Petzenberger, and West went after Scholz. Fagan soon caught Petzenberger, and joined West in his chase. Oscar Bloom, a resident of Holly Street, saw the two officers chasing and firing at Scholz and misconstrued the situation, as the officers were not in uniform. Bloom shot Officer West once, and West fell. He then called out that he was a police officer, and Bloom rushed over and stayed with him until a police patrol came for West. He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, where he died on July 26, 1917.

Officer West joined the police department April 16, 1917. He was forced to leave in February 1917, due to cutbacks, but was able to come back May 15, 1917.