James Harris and his wife, Terri, enjoy traveling together. They recently went to Alaska, where he says he would like to retire.
James Harris: Belen police chief , avid fisherman, hunter and problem-solver
James Harris, the chief of the Belen Police Department, lives in Los Chavez with his wife, Terri. He has two adult children of his own, and three stepchildren and seven grandchildren.
Q |
What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? |
A |
“If I am not thinking about work, since I am an avid fisherman and hunter, I am usually thinking about hunting or fishing and how I am going to be able to get enough time throughout the year to be able to get out on the boat or into the woods to do the one hobby I love. I also like to listen to music while I am in my car and just clear my mind entirely.” |
Q |
What’s a myth about your profession you’d like to bust? |
A |
“I often look at social media, and I read a lot of posts that people write, and it seems that the public has a certain perception of police work. “It seems people think that we arrest people and then let the people back out, or that police are not doing anything to stop the crime that is occurring. The truth is we are making arrests, charging people with serious crimes and taking dangerous repeat offender off the streets. Once we have arrested someone and booked them into the jail, our ability to control what happens ends. “Believe me when I say that we do not appreciate doing all the hard work that we do just to have it undone.” |
Q |
What were you like in high school? |
A |
“I was in high school in the mid-80s. It was the era of heavy metal music, hair bands and fast muscle cars. I had long hair, ripped jeans and a leather jacket. Without going into details, I will just say that I had a good time while I was in high school. “I graduated in 1987, was married in 1988, joined the military and had twins in 1989, so my teenage years were short lived. But I would not change a thing about them because I learned a lot and those lessons have served me well.” |
Chief James Harris and his wife, Terri, enjoyed their time fishing in Alaska in 2017.
James Harris was the officiant at the wedding of Courtnie Pearson and her husband earlier this year.
James Harris is always willing to show the youth that police officers are their to protect them.
James Harris was the narcotics detective and K-9 handler at the Belen Police Department earlier in his career. The K-9 was named Midnight.
Belen Police Chief James Harris and Valencia County Sheriff Denise Vigil have been friends for more than 20 years. He considers her his best friend.
Q |
What is the best advice you’ve ever received and from whom? |
A |
“The best advice I ever received was from Mike Chavez, the previous chief of police from many years ago. At the time, I was working for the Belen Police Department as a narcotics detective. I was headstrong and had very little problem telling people what I thought about pretty much anything. “Chief Chavez told me I would get a lot farther dealing with people if I would learn to use a little tact. It took me several years to learn this lesson and to actually start to use his advice, but once I did, life became a whole lot easier for me and I was able to communicate with people much better.” |
Q |
What did you want to be when you grew up? |
A |
“I really never had much of a plan, things just kind of progressed in my life and I found my calling early on. “When I first joined the military, I was a mechanic, which I showed a pretty good aptitude for. But it did not take very long before I realized I did not enjoy busting my knuckles and getting greasy. So police work was it.” |
Q |
Who inspires you? |
A |
“I am inspired by success from adversity. I find comfort in knowing that people can rise above their circumstances, grow, overcome and conquer their demons, to become anything they want to become. “I have a family member (who will remain unnamed for this publication) who had an addiction to substances in their early life. They were facing a life of prison or worse and they were given a second chance by a judge who took pity on them. “They took the chance that was offered and not only overcame the demon but also become extremely successful in a very respectable field. So if I have to say one person who inspires me more than anyone else it would be that family member.” |
Q |
If you could work any other job for one day, what would it be and why? |
A |
“I would love to be a deck hand on one of the boats on “Wicked Tuna.” I know one day of doing that would probably kill me, but just catching one of those huge fish would be the coolest thing in the world.” |
Q |
What do you do in your free time? |
A |
“I love to hunt and fish and I spend as much time doing that as possible, unfortunately I can’t do that as much as I would like to. I also like to cook, spend time with family and friends (which life seems to get in the way of a lot) and I like to read and watch TV.” |
Q |
What’s something about you most people don’t know? |
A |
“I am pretty much an open book, and anything people don’t know about me is things that I don’t want people to know about me.” |
Q |
What three books would you to take to a deserted island? |
A |
“Anything from Stephen King, anything from Dean Koontz and anything from John Grisham.” |
Q |
You find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do? |
A |
“Retire and move to Alaska.” |
Q |
Who is your best friend and why? |
A |
My best friend is Denise Vigil and has been for more than 20 years. Why is because she is the one person (other than my wife) who I can talk to about anything, and tell anything to and know that she will always have my back. “I know that no matter how much we argue and get mad at one another, when all is said and done we are still there for each other, and always will be.” |
Q |
What’s your favorite song to sing when you’re alone? |
A |
“‘Seasons in the Sun’ by Terry Jacks.” |
Q |
Where is your happy place, and why? |
A |
“My happy place has always been the mountains, among the tall pines. That is my church. That is where I feel closest to God. It is just good for the soul.” |
Q |
Have you had a life-changing experience that led you to where you are today? |
A |
“I have had several life-changing experiences that have led me to where I am today, most of them have revolved around the loss of friends and family to violence, drugs and the devastation they bring. That was not the reason I started in law enforcement, but it has definitely been what has kept me focused on it over the years.” |
Q |
What teacher had the greatest impact on you? |
A |
“I have learned many lessons in my life from several different teachers, but the one that probably stands out more than any other was an instructor I had at the New Mexico Corrections Academy. “The instructor’s name was Marcela Armijo. She instilled in me a code that I have tried to live by throughout my career and that code is to be ‘firm, fair and consistent.’ I have always tried to live by this, although I have fallen short several times, I can say that it has always been something to strive to live up to.” |
Q |
What is your favorite movie scene and why? |
A |
“The shoot-out scene in ‘Tombstone’ between Doc Holiday and Johnny Ringo, and why is because it was just too cool.” |
Q |
If you could have dinner with one famous person — dead or alive — who would it be and why? |
A |
“I would like to have dinner with George Washington. I think the stories of how our country was founded and the battles that were fought would be very enlightening, and would give me renewed faith in what our country stands for.” |
Q |
What are you most proud of? |
A |
“I am very proud when someone comes to me and tells me that I have made a difference in their life. It also fills me with pride when young people thank me for my service. The job that we do daily is dangerous and difficult, and we often times see the worst that society has to offer, but we also get to see the people of this world at their best. “I am most proud of the officers who I have under my command. They show me every day that what I have done in my life matters and that maybe I have encouraged them to matter as well.” |
Q |
How would you like to be remembered? |
A |
“I would like to be remembered as a good husband, father, friend and cop. I want to be remembered as a man of honor, integrity and dignity, and a person that could be counted on by others.” |
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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April 19, 2024
