PAULDING COUNTY — The man who served as Paulding County’s Sheriff from 1993 until 2008 has died.
The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office announced the death of retired Sheriff Bruce Harris. Harris died surrounded by his family at Kennestone Hospital on Sunday Jan. 12, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
Harris was a native of Paulding County and loved his home and the people of Paulding County.
He graduated from West Georgia College in 1969 with a degree in Education. He later returned and earned an add-on degree in Criminal Justice when it became available as a degree program. After he graduated in 1969, he worked as a teacher in the Paulding County School District.
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In 1975, Harris realized his true calling and went to work for the Georgia State Patrol. He graduated Trooper School in 1976 and eventually came back to work as a Trooper in Paulding County.
Harris worked for the Georgia State Patrol for nearly 18 years.
In 1992, Harris ran for Sheriff of Paulding County and was elected by the citizens. He took office on Jan. 1, 1993.
Throughout his career, Harris helped modernize the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. One of his first tasks was to create a standard operating procedure when there was not one before. He went on to overcome many obstacles in his career which helped shape the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office into one of the largest and most professional Sheriff’s Offices in the State of Georgia.
Harris served as the Sheriff of Paulding County from Jan. 1, 1993 until he retired on December 31, 2008. Harris served a total of 16 years and is recognized as the longest serving Sheriff in Paulding County history. He was the 47th Sheriff in the county’s 188 year history.
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.
