Sebring Police Chief Ray Harris Retires After 40 Years of Service

A New Chapter for Sebring Police Chief Ray Harris

After four decades of service in uniform, Police Chief Ray Harris is preparing to embark on a new chapter in his life. At 66 years old, Harris has decided to retire, with his final official day set for October 31. The City Council granted his request to remain on paid leave until that date, allowing him time to adjust to his next phase.

Sergeant Joshua Kelm will take over as the interim chief, and he is expected to assume the role permanently on November 1. Kelm secured the highest score on the civil service exam, making him the ideal candidate for the position. Patrolman Aaron Peterman will serve as the interim sergeant during this transition period.

Harris expressed his desire to spend more time with his wife, Beth, and to travel. “As a chief and a detective, you can't go too far, too long,” he said. The couple has two grown children, three grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. Both are deeply involved in Christian ministry work, which will likely play a significant role in their future plans.

A Legacy of Service

Harris’s career began in the military, where he served for 20 years. A native of Indiana, he followed in his father's footsteps by joining the Army in 1976 at the age of 17. He retired at 37 with the rank of sergeant first class. “My parents couldn’t afford college, and I wanted to go to college,” Harris explained. “The Army offered me the opportunity to do that.”

He later earned a degree in general administration. Throughout his military career, Harris held various roles, including working in the medical field as a practical nurse after an injury shifted him away from combat. He also served as a recruiting officer for the Northeast Ohio region, which brought the Harrises to the Sebring area in the late 1990s.

Upon retiring from the Army in 1997, Harris was ordained as a minister. However, he needed a job, so he turned to his medical background and joined Rural/Metro Ambulance company. While working there, in 2001, he found his calling to serve and protect his community.

A Life-Changing Event

The events of September 11, 2001, changed the course of Harris’s life. At the time, he was still with the ambulance company, which had a federal contract for emergency response to disasters. Harris traveled to New York City to assist with rescue efforts at Ground Zero. “Originally, we were supposed to be just an ambulance service at (old) Shea Stadium. When we got to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, they said, 'Your mission has changed,'” he recalled.

He spent three days at the site. This experience sparked his decision to enter police work. In his 40s, Harris graduated from the police academy in 2002 and was hired as a part-time officer for Sebring and Smith Township's police departments. “I felt like I was doing everything I could to protect citizens of this great country we have. So I felt a calling to go the police academy,” he said.

Leadership and Community Impact

Harris was promoted to full-time police detective with Sebring in 2005. He also served on the Sebring Board of Education, acting as its president for four years. In 2017, he became the police department's leader after the unexpected death of longtime Police Chief Ray Heverly in late 2016 from a brief illness.

Under Harris’s leadership, the department introduced a canine unit, added a school resource officer in the Sebring Local School District, and remained actively engaged in the community. “And we kept the crime rate in Sebring, you know, at a low position,” Harris said.

In 2024, the school district recognized Harris with the "Excellence in School Safety and Community Engagement Award” for Leadership and Strategic Safety Planning. “It's been a great ride,” he said. “My wife said, 'You know, 40 years to your country, that's enough. I want some time with you.'"

Future Plans and Recognition

Village Manager Tim Gabrelcik praised Harris for his service. “Chief Harris has served the Village well,” Gabrelcik said. “He has grown the department with increasing officers, advocated for a better vehicle replacement schedule, and advocated for the passage of Sebring's first police levy.”

Harris’s future plans are not fully defined, but he is clear about one thing: “I like to get out and talk to people about God. That's what I want to do.” His journey from military service to law enforcement has left a lasting impact on the community, and his legacy will continue to inspire those who knew him.