MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) announced they received the resignation of Executive Director of Safety and Security on Saturday Aug. 17, 2024. The short tenure of Lt. George Harris has caused some officials to wonder what happened.
"The SROs that I've talked with, they're going to respect his decision," said retired Captain Bennie Cobb, the owner of Eagle Eye Security and Training. "I don't know the insides of his personnel issues, but we will let it be what it is.'
Harris was formerly with the Detroit Public Schools Department of Public Safety and was introduced as the new Executive Director of Safety at MSCS at the Committee meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024.
According to a statement released by MSCS, Harris cited "personal reasons" in his resignation, and said he has "enjoyed his short time with an amazing team of Directors."
An MSCS board member told ABC24 that Saturday morning's resignation follows a letter sent Friday night, Aug. 16, by member Stephanie Love inquiring about Harris' finances while he worked in Detroit and about accusations that Harris misappropriated funds while there.
"He stepped into a hornet's nest,' Cobb said. "He was part of the complaint. He was the executive director when the complaints were filed, and the SROs not knowing who he was, he actually stepped into a hornet's nest."
A closer look at Harris' past also has members questioning if he worked in Detroit while working with MSCS without disclosing that to the board.
According to a Facebook post from the Detroit Public Schools Department of Public Safety, Harris led a social media investigations training on Tuesday, just hours before he attended and spoke at an MSCS Committee meeting that afternoon.
One board member is trying to confirm if Harris was on vacation from DPSCD when he started working in Memphis.
Cobb said dual administrative positions are acceptable only if the school board and superintendent are aware.
"If you don't disclose that information and that's found out later on, that's a problem," he said.
Some of the SROs told us earlier this week that Harris' arrival was unexpected and that he was aggressive towards them during a meeting. Cobb says SROs primarily want to move on and put the past behind them.
A representative issued the following statement;
'Information has been received that Executive Director George Harris has resigned. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. We must continue to move forward and focus on the task at hand. We will ensure that our children, our staff, and our community are provided with the exceptional services that we render daily.'