From Beaufort County Community College

When Christopher Harrison was growing up in Fayetteville, he thought he was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps as the owner of a major electrical contracting business.

But it was a criminal justice class taught by a retired police officer at Fayetteville State University that changed his mind.

“I had not thought about going into law enforcement but he was a very good teacher,” Harrison said. “And I discovered that I was very interested in criminal justice.”

In December, Harrison joined the staff at Beaufort County Community College as Chief of Police. He succeeds Hal Swindell who retired in October. In January, Harrison was introduced to the BCCC Board of Trustees by college President Barbara Tansey

“BCCC is delighted to have Chief Harrison join the college staff as police chief,” she told the board. “He is a nice fit and has already proven to be an excellent resource for the college campus.

As Chief of Police, Harrison is charged with maintaining security on the college campus, overseeing the work of BCCC’s full- and part-time police force and cooperating with other law enforcement agencies in BCCC’s four-county service area and across the state.

A graduate of Cape Fear Senior High School, Harrison holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Fayetteville State University. He earned his Basic Law Enforcement Training certification from Pitt Community College in 2004 and is pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice, which he is expected to complete this year.

Harrison worked as an intern with the N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Community Corrections in Fayetteville from April to May 2001. Among his duties, he helped interview probationers to evaluate their progress and helped maintain the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans, among other duties.

Harrison joined the Greenville Police Department in 2004 and served in that department as Advanced Police Officer from October 2004 until joining the BCCC staff.  He served in the Patrol Division, Special Operations, and as a SWAT Operator on Greenville’s Emergency Response Team.

His duties with the department included responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws and promoting good community relations, among other duties. As a SWAT Operator, Harrison was deployed to verified hostage situations, armed barricaded persons and snipers, among other duties.

Harrison also has teaching experience. He has served as a Basic Law Enforcement Training Instructor for Pitt Community College and hopes to fulfill that role on the BCCC campus.

Harrison has been certified as a North Carolina General Instructor through the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission; a Rapid Deployment Instructor through the N.C. Justice Academy, and Taser Instructor through Taser International. He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate through the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and is the recipient of the Police Medal and numerous commendations from the Greenville Police Department.