Spotlight: Officer Harris
January 9 is designated as Law Enforcement Officer Appreciation Day.
School Resource Officer Harris has been involved in law enforcement for several years. She has worked the private security sector and in a maximum-security prison. She has been with the Henry County Police Department since 2020 and has been serving as a school resource officer for 2 years.
Officer Harris is from Texas and grew up as an Army brat, often moving from one Army base to another. When she was young, her big dream was to become a surgeon. She loves crime shows like "The First 48" and "Criminal Minds" and those types of shows influenced her to consider forensics and investigation as a young adult.
Officer Harris in front of white boards with messages from students
Harris got her degree in Criminal Justice from Texas Southern University, which is one of the largest historically black college and universities. After graduation, she wanted to work with parolees; however, post-pandemic hiring freezes sent her in another direction and she found herself in McDonough.
Although Harris started with the Henry County Police Department on patrol, she truly enjoys working as a school resource officer. She has always loved children. She is the favorite aunt to her nieces and nephews. Working with the kids is her favorite part of the job. She also shared that the hours as an SRO are better than as a patrol officer too.
She has three instructions for life: stay humble, work hard, and be kind.
McDonough Middle is honored to have Officer Harris as part of its staff.
Some heroes wear a cape. Ours wears a badge. Thank you Officer Harris!