Meet Jack Harris

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Created on Friday, 10 May 2013 12:40
Written by Sean Siciliano

jack harrisLYNDONVILLE - A man who started his career in Connecticut and didn't plan on moving to Vermont until retirement.  In 2003 Jack Harris moved to Lyndonville so that he could start the Lyndonville police department. Jack was ready to step into this police chief job but did not realize what he was getting into. When he took the job it was the towns vision for him to start this police department for the ground up but Chief Harris was up for the challenge.

Harris has been a very involved member of the force being on duty 24-7.While being involved in the police department Harris is also the head coach at Lyndon Institute for the spring track and field program. Harris says, " One thing you learn in coaching is that all the kids become really your own."

While Harris was at practice in early May he looked up the hill and saw black smoke coming over the tree line. Harris immediately called his other officer and then proceeded up the hill to investigate. While he sped up the hill one of his runners said "Is go to do police stuff?' Harris went up the hill and arrived at a structure fire that had already taken the entire garage. The chief wasted no time taking command of the scene and working with the Lyndonville Fire Department to set up a perimeter for the trucks and to get an officer there to block the appropriate roads. One the scene was under control Harris got back in his car and made his way back to track. Just another day in a small town. And when you ask Harris how long he will do this for, he said "until they wont let me do it any longer."