PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — His was a familiar face across Paulding County for more than 15 years - and a name known among Georgia law enforcement even longer.
On Sunday, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office announced the death of former sheriff Bruce Harris. Harris, who served as the county's sheriff from Jan. 1993 until the end of 2008, died surrounded by loved-ones at Kennestone Hospital according to a post by the sheriff's office.
Harris was a native Paulding Countian and "loved his home and the people of Paulding County," the sheriff's office said. He graduated from West Georgia College in 1969 with a degree in Education, but later returned to earn an add-on degree in Criminal Justice. After he graduated in 1969, he worked as a teacher in the Paulding County School District, before he "realized his true calling" and went to work for the Georgia State Patrol in 1975, where he served as a trooper for 18 years.
"Sheriff Harris was an innovator in the field of law enforcement and helped bring the Paulding County Sheriff's Office into the 21st century with a number of technological and procedural advances," the statement read.
In the statement, the sheriff's office said Harris helped modernize the Paulding County Sheriff's Office and was "directly responsible" for bringing several integral units into existence, including SWAT, the crisis negotiating team, the Honor Guard, the K-9 unit, the Crimes Against Children Unit.
But he also helped facilitate the creation of outreach programs like the Cops for Kids Christmas Shopping Program, the Cops for Kids Golf Tournament and the Lamar Hunton Memorial Motorcycle Ride for Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes.
Photos: Retired Sheriff Bruce Harris
The sheriff's office described Harris as "a true Paulding Countian" who loved every aspect of it.
"Bruce, as he was called by many, was beloved by so many people in Paulding County," the statement continued. "He was always available and seemed to listen to his law enforcement radio both day and night. He would show up on a scene regardless of whether it was on a holiday or even in the middle of the night. He was a Sheriff for the people and was an excellent leader."
"He will be sorely missed by many," the statement said.
Sheriff Harris’ funeral arrangements are being handled by Clark’s Funeral Home in Hiram, Georgia. He will be laid to rest in the Dallas Memory Gardens Cemetery near his home in downtown Dallas, Georgia on a date still to be announced.
"We will never forget the path he paved for those of us at the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. He made Paulding County a better place because he was the Sheriff," the sheriff's office said. "Sheriff Bruce Harris '01,' will forever be 10-7 ... 10-42."
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