MEMPHIS, Tenn — A Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member spoke out for the first time since her letter led to a resignation from an employee who was on the job for less than a week.
MSCS introduced Lt. George Harris as the new executive director of safety and security less than a week ago. However, in the same week his position was announced, Harris resigned, citing personal reasons.
MSCS board member Stephanie Love said the district has an interim for Harris' position, but that individual has yet to be identified. Love said she didn't imagine her email would cause an employee to resign from their job.
An email obtained by ABC24 shows MSCS board member Stephanie Love sent board members and MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins concerning questions last Friday night about Harris. In the letter, Love inquired about Harris' background file and an accusation of him misappropriating funds during his time in Detroit.
"My intentions were just to make the board members and the superintendent aware that I received a very disturbing phone call," Love said.
Love said less than 12 hours after submitting her email, Harris resigned from his position. ABC24 discovered a social media post that displayed Harris leading a training last Tuesday for Detroit Public Schools Department of Public Safety hours before he attended an MSCS board meeting on the same day.
"We didn't know he was working for two different school systems," Love said. "We only found that out when the news reported it."
An MSCS board member who wanted to remain anonymous, shared with ABC24 that Harris was on a cruise at the time of his interview and revealed he scored the second lowest of all four officers who applied for the job.
Love said Feagins reassured her they will change the hiring process after what happened with Harris' departure.
"The superintendent told me she is going to review practices and policies so this won't happen again," she said.
MSCS parent Britney Mahone said this issue with Harris is another reason why she's not confident children are safe while at school in regard to school resource officers.
"I just don't think that they do anything, because if they did, all this stuff wouldn't happen in schools," Mahone said.
Love told ABC24 the district's Human Resources department is in charge of the hiring policy. ABC24 reached out to MSCS to learn more about that process and if they plan to change it in light of what happened with Harris leaving his job, but they have yet to respond.