Drew Harris
{{Short description|Commissioner of the Garda Síochána}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Drew Harris
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE|QPM}}
| image = Drew Harris, 2024 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Harris in 2024
| order = 21st
| office = Garda Commissioner
| term_start = 3 September 2018
| term_end =
| predecessor = Dónall Ó Cualáin {{small|(Acting)}}
| successor =
| deputy = Anne Marie McMahon
Shawna Coxon
| office1 = Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
| 1blankname1 = Chief Constable
| 1namedata1 = George Hamilton
| term_start1 = 13 October 2014
| term_end1 = 3 September 2018
| predecessor1 = Judith Gillespie
| successor1 = Mark Hamilton
| birth_name = Jeremy Andrew Harris{{cite web|url=https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2018/july/IR270718.pdf|work=Iris Oifigiúil|title=Issue No. 60|date=27 July 2018|access-date=7 September 2018|archive-date=9 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809202933/https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2018/july/IR270718.pdf|url-status=live}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|4|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Jane Harris|1988}}
| children = 4
| relations = Alwyn Harris (father)
| alma_mater = Open University
University of Cambridge
| signature =
| website =
|}}
Jeremy Andrew Harris, {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|size=100%|OBE|QPM}} (born 5 April 1965), is the current Commissioner of the Garda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland, having assumed office in September 2018. He previously served as Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) from 2014 to 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/our-leadership/Deputy-Chief-Constable-Drew-Harris/|title=Deputy Chief Constable {{!}} Police Service of Northern Ireland|website=www.psni.police.uk|language=en|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192402/https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/our-leadership/Deputy-Chief-Constable-Drew-Harris/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0626/973313-drew-harris-garda-commissioner/|title=PSNI officer named as new Garda Commissioner|last=Connor|first=Dyane|date=26 June 2018|work=RTÉ News|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626182410/https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0626/973313-drew-harris-garda-commissioner/|url-status=live}}
Biography
Harris's father, senior RUC officer Alwyn Harris, was murdered by the Provisional IRA in 1989.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/profile-drew-harris-of-the-psni-30600926.html|work=Belfast Telegraph|title=Profile: Drew Harris of the PSNI|date=20 September 2014|access-date=7 September 2018|archive-date=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015708/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/profile-drew-harris-of-the-psni-30600926.html|url-status=live}}
Harris joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in 1983, rising to become Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI in October 2014.
Following an international selection process, which included a salary increase to €250,000 to attract greater interest, Harris was announced as the new Garda Commissioner on 26 June 2018, becoming the first Commissioner to be appointed from outside the Garda Síochána.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/psni-deputy-chief-drew-harris-appointed-as-garda-commissioner-37051092.html|title=PSNI deputy chief Drew Harris appointed as Garda Commissioner|work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2018|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626144639/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/psni-deputy-chief-drew-harris-appointed-as-garda-commissioner-37051092.html|url-status=live}} He took over the leadership of the Garda Síochána from Dónall Ó Cualáin, who had served as acting Garda Commissioner since the resignation of Nóirín O'Sullivan in September 2017, following a number of Garda scandals.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0910/903655-noirin-osullivan-retiring/|title=O'Sullivan to retire over 'unending cycle' of scrutiny|date=10 September 2017|work=RTÉ News|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191319/https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0910/903655-noirin-osullivan-retiring/|url-status=live}} His appointment as Garda Commissioner was initially for five years.
In July 2023, the Garda Representative Association announced the rank and file of the Gardaí were holding a vote of no-confidence in Commissioner Harris over roster disputes.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Niall |date=26 July 2023 |title=Rank and file gardaí to vote on no confidence motion in Garda Commissioner |work=The Journal |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/garda-rosters-industrial-relations-no-confidence-drew-harris-6129507-Jul2023/ |access-date=11 August 2023}} Harris stated that regardless the outcome of the vote, he would not be leaving the position.{{Cite news |last=Staines |first=Michael |date=9 August 2023 |title="Whatever the vote is, I'm not leaving" - Garda Commissioner on no confidence vote |work=Newstalk |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/whatever-the-vote-is-im-not-leaving-garda-commissioner-on-no-confidence-vote-1495379 |access-date=11 August 2023}} The vote was passed with 98.7% voting in favour of the motion and 1.3% against.{{Cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Paul |date=13 September 2023 |title=GRA vote of no confidence in Harris passes unanimously |work=RTE News |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0913/1404953-gra-confidence-vote-harris/ |access-date=13 September 2023}}
Personal life
Harris is married with four children. He holds a bachelor's degree in Politics and Economics from the Open University along with a master's degree in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. He is a Protestant, specifically a Presbyterian.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2018-08-20/incoming-irish-police-commissioner-faces-many-challenges-as-he-crosses-old-divides|title=Crossing the Irish Police Barrier: An Ulster Presbyterian set to be Ireland's top police official will try to reform the scandal-ridden ranks|last=O'Loughlin|first=Ed|date=20 August 2018|work=US News and World Report|access-date=15 January 2023}} He is both a British citizen and an Irish citizen.{{Cite news |last=Mag Raollaigh |first=Joe |date=30 August 2018 |title=Minister says new Garda Commissioner is not an outsider |work=RTE News |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/crime/2018/0830/988528-drew-harris/ |quote=Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan ... describing him as an Irishman./ The Garda Press Office has confirmed that Mr Harris does have an Irish passport.}}
In July 2024, a death threat was made against Harris in a video posted on TikTok by a man who said Harris would be getting "blasted before the end of the year". A 28-year-old man was later arrested.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0718/1460558-death-threats/|title=Man arrested in connection with threats to kill Sinn Féin leader, Garda Commissioner|publisher=RTÉ News|date=18 July 2024|accessdate=18 July 2024}}
Honours
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010 and was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 2019 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette |date=12 June 2010 |issue=59446 |supp=1 |pages=1–28}}{{londongazette|date=8 June 2019|supp=y|issue=62666|page=B1}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;" | ||
| style="background:silver;" align="center"
|Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| 40px | Order of the British Empire (OBE) | * Officer
:: Civil Division :: 2010 Birthday Honours List{{London Gazette |date=12 June 2010 |issue=59446 |supp=1 |pages=1–28}} |
| 40px | Queen's Police Medal (QPM) | * 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours List{{londongazette|date=8 June 2019|supp=y|issue=62666|page=B1}} |
| 40px | Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal | * 2002
|
| 40px | Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal | * 2012
|
| 40px | Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal | |
| 40px | Royal Ulster Constabulary Service Medal |
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-civ|pol}}
{{s-bef|before = Dónall Ó Cualáin
{{small|(Acting)}} }}
{{s-ttl|title = Garda Commissioner
|years = 2018–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Drew}}
Category:Police Service of Northern Ireland officers
Category:Royal Ulster Constabulary officers
Category:British police chief officers
Category:Police officers from Belfast
Category:Alumni of the Open University
Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Northern Irish recipients of the Queen's Police Medal