Sheriff Larry Rollins, with the deepest sympathy and regret, announces the death of Patrol Officer John Strickland on Wednesday, September 24, 2003.

Deputy John F. Strickland, age 38, was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 in a one vehicle accident on Nursery Road off Highway 87. Deputy Strickland was responding to a call when the accident occurred. The call involved a citizen calling 911 stating that he woke up that morning and there was an unknown subject in his house. Deputy Strickland was dispatched to the call at 7:39 and the call on the accident was received at 7:46.

Deputy Strickland joined the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office on January 15, 2003.

Deputy Sheriff John F. Strickland was married to Rebecca Lynn Strickland. They have three children; Christopher Terrell (stepson) age 16, Joshua Strickland son age 14, and daughter Danielle Strickland age 11. They lived near Spring Lake in Harnett County. Deputy John F. Strickland was the son of retired Harnett County Sheriff’s Captain Bill Strickland.

John attended Western Harnett High School, graduated 1983. He joined the US Army in July 1983 and retired in 2003 with twenty years of service with the rank of Sergeant First Class. He attended Piece College, Tacoma, WA where he received an Associates Degree. He received his Basic Law Enforcement Training at Fayetteville Technical Community College in 2002.

In Loving Memory of Deputy John F. Strickland

Lift me up, Oh Lord,
In this time of sorrow and pain,

Life me up, Oh Lord,
I pray in thy Holy Name,

Life me up, Oh Lord,
For I don’t know where to turn,

Lift me up, Oh Lord,
For thy love, my heart does yearn,

Lift me up, Oh Lord,
For I’m weary and need to rest,

Lift me up, Oh Lord,
And hold me to thy breast,

Lift me up, Oh Lord,
And forgive me of my sins,

Lift me up, Oh Lord,
For thy Glory never ends.

Composed by Deputy Larry Smith
Harnett County Sheriff’s Office