Sgt. Tom Harrison retires after 31 years

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

After 31 years with the Emery County Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Tom Harrison will retire on April 15. Sgt. Harrison said, “It’s been a good career. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to do a lot of things. I started in the jail and worked as a detective for awhile.
“I also worked on the road. We started the drug task force from the ground up. We worked with Carbon County in the beginning. I worked on the drug task force for seven years. I became a patrol sergeant. I still supervised the drug task force during that time.
“After the start of Homeland Security, I was the emergency manager and the administrative sergeant. I enjoyed building up the rope team, haz-mat team and the Emery County Sheriff’s special operation team. That was our version of a SWAT team. We would have lockdown trainings in all the schools each year. Our rope team was instrumental in a lot of rescues and recoveries over the years. We had a lot of hazmat trainings. Suiting up and working with the power plants and local gas companies.
“After 31 years, I think the thing I will miss the most is the interaction with the people. Not only those I worked with at the Sheriff’s Office, but the friendships I’ve made in the community.
“Most of the time when someone needs a deputy, it’s not a good situation. I have enjoyed being able to help people. There are some bad parts, dealing with accidents, suicides, but that’s just part of the job.
“It’s been a good career with a lot of opportunities. The bad things are just part of the job and you go out and do it and deal with it the best you can. I’m going to miss the job, a lot of it and the people.
“It’s time for another chapter in my life, but right now, I can’t imagine taking off the badge and not being a cop anymore.
“But, I’m going to have more free time and I’m going to ride the mules. I did have three, but had to sell two of them to buy my daughter a barrel horse, but now I’m going to get another one. A guy needs two mules. One to ride and one to pack his gear, and if one gets lame, you ride the other one. I’m going to do some cowboying for some people. I plan to stay busy and enjoy life.
“I will leave being a cop behind, but I’d like to stay active in the community, maybe do some substitute teaching. It’s hard to walk away, but it’s time. I’m 62 years old and I feel like I’ve done some good. The trainings we had at the schools and those little kids look at you and they know you’ll protect them. That feels good. Being capable of protecting the people means a lot to me.
“Everything is crucial in rural law enforcement. Like with hazmat, we don’t use it that much, but it’s good to stay fresh and up to date on everything. You wear so many hats in rural law enforcement. You have to be all things to all people. I’ve enjoyed the rope trainings and being prepared with those. I might even volunteer with the search and rescue. I’m really going to miss the interaction with the guys.
“I’ve enjoyed the community education and the anti-drug presentations. I feel good about that. At one time in our county we were inundated with a series of prescription overdose deaths and we had eight in one year. We decided to try to educate the people and do something about it. We did a presentation in every church, every school, every civic organization to educate them about these prescription drugs and the risks involved. We reached 10,000 people. We talked to the school kids and did assemblies in the high schools and the junior highs. The following year after this education push there were only two prescription drug overdose deaths. We feel like we made a difference.
“We also did a lot of trainings on self-defense and being aware of your surroundings and what to do in those situations. The community outreach and visiting with people at the county and city celebrations was very rewarding.
“It’s been a good job. I’ve loved it,” said Sgt. Harrison.
Sgt. Harrison and his wife April have four daughters and one son. They are grandparents to 14.
“I’m going to spend more time with family and doing projects. It will be nice to enjoy family time without being worried about being called out. I have a good family. I have been really blessed. I plan to have time to enjoy the grandkids and go to their activities. It’s going to be a good change,” said Sgt. Harrison.