Position re-established as one of Scott’s first actions as sheriff M iddlesex County Sheriff Mildred S.
Scott has re-established the position of undersheriff, which she said will help to build stronger relationships between county and local law enforcement and enhance operational efficiencies in her department.
Kevin B. Harris, who served as police chief in Piscataway for nine years and as president of the Middlesex County Association of Chiefs of Police, will assume the role effective Feb. 7, Scott told Greater Media Newspapers. Harris will earn an annual salary of $114,000.
Scott, who took over as sheriff Jan. 1 after two years as a freeholder, said Harris’ administrative experience, as well as his additional 18 years’ experience working his way up from patrol officer to captain, makes him uniquely qualified to be undersheriff. As such, he will be second in command to Scott and assist in overseeing all department operations.
“Kevin Harris will be an incredible asset to the Sheriff’s Department,” Scott said. “He will be able to draw on 27 years’ police administration and beat knowledge and can easily translate that into this position as we work toward building stronger relationships with our local law enforcement partners.”
Sheriff’s officers have daily interaction with local police departments when transporting prisoners. In addition, Scott said she is looking to strengthen and expand several joint task forces that consist of county and local officers.
“I worked with Kevin when he was an officer and I was chief here; I worked with him when I served as a Piscataway Township councilwoman and he was the Piscataway chief,” Scott said. “I know his work ethic and his background, and I know that he is the right person to move our plans along and enhance the safety and security of our residents.”
A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Harris managed a department with a $10.5 million budget and more than 120 full- and part-time employees. During his tenure as police chief, the crime rate in Piscataway decreased by nearly 7 percent. He established community-policing programs, oversaw technology upgrades in the department and worked closely with Rutgers University on event security, traffic control and enforcement details.
Scott said Harris’ hiring begins a restructuring of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department that will bring greater efficiency and focus on day-to-day operations. She said she will also be hiring a chief of staff to oversee the business office of the department.
Scott said the department is creating new job titles, not adding jobs. She noted that as part of the restructuring, she will not be using a chief officer.
She said the restructuring will save Middlesex County taxpayers more than $90,000 annually, while public safety will continue to be enhanced. Harris, she said, will not be using county health benefits or taking a pension with this position.
The Sheriff’s Department presently has 40 civilians and 175 active officers, 15 shy of its previous level.