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Harris now interim chief

By BEN NELMS
bnelms@TheCitizenNews.com

Longtime police Lt. Jeffery Harris has been named interim Fayetteville police chief. The appointment was announced Monday by City Manager Joe Morton. Harris will head the department until a new chief is appointed.

Morton said Tuesday that Harris was obviously the most senior lieutenant in the department and has tremendous supervisory experience.

“I feel like Jeff is who we need right now during this period of transition,” he said. “He has the respect of the department, and that’s important.”

Harris began his tenure with Fayetteville Police Department as a dispatcher in 1987. He attended the Police Academy in 1990 and was promoted through the ranks, serving in numerous areas within the department, including in the Patrol Division, Traffic Unit and Criminal Investigations Unit.

Harris was promoted to lieutenant in 1996 and was named Criminal Investigations Unit commander in 2002.

Morton said the city is focusing its search for a new chief in areas around the state. He estimated that the selection process might take three to four months or longer to complete.

Harris’ appointment as interim chief came after the unexpected announcement in mid-May that Chief Johnny Roberts was retiring. Allegations by former officers of the presence of a hostile work environment in the department preceded his decision to retire.