Passion For Children Brings Officer to KCPD
Image of Officer Ebony Harrison
#BlackHistoryMonth
Being a police officer was not something Ebony Harrison thought about; it was off the radar. Yet here she is – Officer Harrison – one year into her policing career.
“It's not a job that I think that I would ever have done,” Harrison said of the path she’s enjoying. “Patrol is everything. It is the heartbeat to literally everything that goes on in this department, and it is way more than I ever could have imagined.”
As a public servant, Harrison must hold herself to the highest standards. In her role, as an officer, she’s also aware she can serve as a role model.
“It's really nice to see young boys, young girls, and teenagers see black women and men in this field because it was scarce,” Harrison said. “We see it quite more now. And I see a lot of times in the streets and interacting with little boys and girls running up to me specifically and saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to be a police officer one day,’ and they absolutely can.”
Harrison’s passion for children brought her to KCPD, though not directly. Serving as a child abuse and neglect investigator in Clay County, Harrison toured KCPD’s Juvenile Section, meeting with detectives who investigate crimes against children.
“It was the exact day that we took the tour, that night I submitted my application to be an officer,” Harrison said. “I saw men and women dedicated to seeking justice for children. The work that they put in with the family and going after the perpetrator, for those children, is huge. That's what I wanted to do.”
Detective work may be in Harrison’s future. The impact, for now, is in the community as she embraces the opportunity to serve Kansas City in countless ways.
“I love engaging with the community,” Harrison said. “I love going to calls. I love that it's something new every day. I'm always learning. There's never not a time that I'm learning something new, and I'll be learning for the rest of my career.”
KCPD has police officer openings. Apply here.