Chad Morris has been with the Harrison Police Department since 2009. He recently decided to make a career move and has joined the Harrison Fire Department as the Deputy Fire Marshal with the Community Risk Reduction Division.
He began as a patrol officer and then climbed the ranks to Sergeant, which he held for ten years.
“It was better for my family to change from working 12-hour shifts and nights. A steady schedule sounded very appealing,” he said.
Fire Chief Marc Lowery said, “The Deputy Fire Marshal's duties will include code enforcement- fire prevention and building codes, as well as clean premises and other city ordinances.
That position is also tasked with performing plan reviews on fire suppression systems and fire alarm systems and conducting fire prevention inspections of business and public buildings.
Other duties will include origin and cause investigations of fires and responding to and assisting at incidents alongside the operation division of the Harrison Fire Department.
Lowery said Morris would have to attend the eight-week firefighter standards class, a two-week fire/arson investigation class, and a two-week fire inspector I class as mandatory classes but will attend plenty of ongoing training.
“Chad is a good fit for this position, as having law enforcement experience helps in understanding building and fire codes and the enforcement of similar laws regarding fire and life safety,” Lowery said.
“I do have a lot to learn in the next few months,” Morris agreed.
Chad and his wife Alicia have been married for 17 years. They have three children: a senior, a sophomore, and a 4th grader. Alicia is a fourth-grade teacher at Skyline Elementary.
Morris’s first job was working at a golf course in Mountain Home. When he was 21 years old, he was hired by the police department. “Being a police officer is all I know. Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a police officer.”
“I know there is a lot to learn, but I look forward to the challenge, and I’m very proud of our police and fire departments,” he said.
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