Berea Police veteran named state resource officer of year

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Madison Southern High School resource officer James Harris talks Monday with freshman Jordan Puckett. Harris recently was named Kentucky School Resource Officer of the Year after being nominated by school officials.

May 5, 2009

Brian Smith The Richmond Register Tue May 05, 2009, 08:15 AM EDT

BEREA — Madison Southern High School resource officer James Harris had a good reason to be surprised that he was named Kentucky School Resource Officer of the Year: He didn’t know he had been nominated.

“(Assistant principal) Mr. (Chuck) Cash had an English teacher come in and said that for a project in his English class, a girl wanted to write about me but she was nervous, so could he interview me and get it from him that way,” Harris said.

“They called me in last week and told me that they lied and it wasn’t for a project, it was for school resource officer of the year and that I won,” Harris said.

Harris, a 30-year veteran of the Berea Police Department, took the job as officer for both Southern and Foley Middle School shortly after his retirement in 2004.

“They brought me out of retirement to work here,” Harris said. “I told them I’d give it a try and I’ve been here ever since.”

Harris’ nomination included a letter of recommendation from state Rep. Harry Moberly as well as support from Cash, and Principal David Gilliam was equally supportive.

“We recently got a high rating from the Kentucky Center for School Safety, and I think Officer Harris is a key reason why we got such a high rating,” Gilliam said.

As a school resource officer, Harris interacts with students and administrators on a daily basis.

“I usually get here about 15 minutes to 7 (a.m.) and meet with Mr. Gilliam to talk about the day’s activities,” Harris said. “It’s basically what develops during the day.”

Harris said a major part of his job is talking with students.

“I would say there are lots of people here who need someone to talk to, someone to talk to about problems,” Harris said. “There are some people here not with law problems, but problems teens have.”

Harris, who will be presented with the award during the June 26 Safe Schools and Communities Conference awards banquet in Lexington, said it was good to be recognized for his work.

“It’s a good feeling,” Harris said. “It lets people know you do more than arrest students.”

Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.

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