Harrison Seeks Sheriff Post

Mike Harrison has announced his candidacy for Sheriff of Gulf County.
Harrison, 39, of Wewahitchka is a third generation law enforcement officer and has over seventeen years of law enforcement experience. Mike and his wife Lana, a teacher at Wewahitchka High School and a Registered Nurse, have been married for fourteen years. They have three children, Blake, 9, Savannah, 7, and Danielle, 4. He is the son of Al and Bonnie Harrison who are long time residents of Wewahitchka.
Harrison attended Gulf County schools and graduated second in his class from Wewahitchka High School in 1986.
After high school, he attended Gulf Coast Community College and Pensacola Junior College while working during the summers at the St. Joe Paper Mill. In 1988 Mike transferred to Florida State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminology.
Mike began his law enforcement career in 1991 with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. After four years of service with FDLE, he began employment with the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, working nine and a half years as a patrol deputy, patrol supervisor, investigator and drug task force officer.
In January of 2005, Mike joined the Gulf County Sheriff's Office. As Major and Chief Investigator, he has worked and supervised the investigation of homicides, sexual assaults, child abuse, robberies, burglaries, financial crimes, domestic violence cases, missing persons and internal investigations. Mike has overseen the Sex Offender and Sex Predator registration program, going above and beyond state guidelines to ensure the safety of the citizens of Gulf County. Harrison has served as the Sheriff's Office representative to the Florida Intelligence Unit and the Regional Organized Crime Information Center. Mike has been responsible for the management of Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council funding that has supported one of the most successful drug operations in the history of Gulf County. Harrison recently spoke before the Council and obtained additional funds to complete the operation. He has also served as the Search and Rescue Team Leader for the 14th Judicial Circuit Child Abduction Response Team. Mike coordinated training for students in our schools that teach them of the possible dangers lurking on the internet. Harrison has also overseen the internet crimes against children cases.
In addition to his bachelor's degree and basic law enforcement recruit training; Harrison has received hundreds of hours of specialized training from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Institute of Police Technology and Management, Gulf Coast Community College and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Mike and his family are active members of Wewahitchka First Baptist Church. He has served on the stewardship committee and has been the coaching commissioner and a coach for the Upward Basketball Ministry. Harrison has served as a committee member and the chairman for the Parent Advisory Council at Wewahitchka Elementary. He has been a coach for Dixie Youth Baseball. He has been a member of the Wewahitchka Gator Boosters and Quarterback Club. He is a past team leader for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and has participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Florida Special Olympics. In 2005, Mike was selected as the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Tupelo Masonic Lodge in Wewahitchka.
Harrison believes that he will bring integrity and professionalism to the Gulf County Sheriff's Office. He feels the primary mission of the Sheriff's Office should be to serve the people in the communities of Gulf County following community oriented policing principles. Mike feels that less emphasis should be placed on traffic enforcement and more emphasis should be placed on drug enforcement and neighborhood security.
"By working with the Gulf County Sheriff's Office, I see what opportunities and challenges face the Sheriff's Office. From issues with the budget to recruiting and retaining quality law enforcement officers, I feel that I am capable to serve the citizens of Gulf County and will serve them with dignity and respect" Harrison said.
Anyone who would like to talk to Mike concerning his campaign can reach him at 850-639-5161.