Media release from the Georgia Forestry Commission:
A Crawford County man’s heart for public service has taken him to a new leadership role at the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). John Harris has been promoted to Chief of Law Enforcement at the GFC, bringing nearly two decades of experience with the State of Georgia to his position.
“John has served the State of Georgia with distinction since 2007,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “His commitment to rapid response and his knowledge of forestry regulations will greatly serve the communities we serve and protect.”
Harris graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in 2006 with a degree in criminal justice. He was an officer with the Motor Carrier Compliance Division of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, rising to the rank of sergeant before transferring to the GFC as an investigator in 2016. Throughout his career, he has broadened his experience by achieving the NWGC qualifications of INVF and INVL and has been on assignments in Texas, Florida, and Washington. He was promoted to Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement in 2024 and recently received his Chief Executive Leadership certificate through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.
Harris grew up on a Crawford Co. dairy farm and said he was “always out in the woods.” Several family members were volunteer firefighters and he has vivid memories of the fire trucks they got to ride. Harris joined the local fire department at age 18 and remains a volunteer at the Crawford Co. Fire Department. In addition, he serves as President of the Crawford County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of Crawford County Young Farmers. He serves as deacon at Musella Baptist Church, and is the fourth generation to continue operating his family’s cattle farm.
Harris said he’s proud to build on the legacy of his GFC Law Enforcement predecessors and keep the department’s operations running smoothly. He looks forward to helping strengthen GFC’s emergency response capabilities and partnership with other state agencies.