Chief of Police

Dan M. Harris, Jr. was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Stephenville, Texas Police Department on February 4, 2020.

Chief Harris, a native of Texas, is in the sixth of seven generations of law enforcement officers in his family.  He is named after his great-grandfather who was shot and killed in the line of duty as a Texas Ranger.  In 1990, he began his law enforcement career as a San Angelo, Texas Police Officer.  He also served as a Law Enforcement Instructor for the South Plains College Criminal Justice Education Center in Levelland, Texas.  

In 1995, Chief Harris entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol as a member of Class# 286 and was first stationed in El Paso, Texas.  From there he received promotions to the Lordsburg, New Mexico Station, Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, DC, Marfa, Texas Station and Sector, Grand Forks Sector in North Dakota and in 2014 he was promoted to Chief Patrol Agent of the Blaine Sector in Blaine, Washington.  In 2020, he retired as the Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy where he led one of the largest law enforcement academies in the United States.

In 2007, Chief Harris was awarded the U.S. Border Patrol’s Medal of Honor, the Newton-Azrak Award.  Also an EMT, he provided emergency medical assistance to stabilize a wounded deputy sheriff during gunfire that erupted at a domestic disturbance call.  The incident ultimately resulted in the death of two deputy sheriffs before the suspect was shot and taken into custody. 

In 2010, Chief Harris graduated from the National Defense University’s Joint Advanced Warfighting School with a Master’s Degree in Planning and Strategy.  In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Angelo State University and an Associate of Arts Degree, along with recognition as Distinguished Alumni, from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. 

Chief Harris and his wife Katrina have been married for over 30 years and have two wonderful children.