HARRIS WINS SOLICITOR’S AWARD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EXCELLENCE IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY

Ashley Harris doesn’t make many arrests but he still has a huge impact on the local court system.

The veteran sheriff’s deputy is charged with the responsibility of analyzing any narcotics seized during drug arrests. He also analyzes evidence collected during arson investigations. Since 2000, Harris has analyzed more than 6,000 drug cases and over 600 arson cases. He has testified in criminal court more than 65 times for his work on cases produced by the Sheriff’s Office, the Spartanburg Public Safety Department, the Highway Patrol and police departments in neighboring counties.

“Ashley has the gift of being able to take a complicated test procedure and explain it in a way that the average person can easily understand,” Solicitor Trey Gowdy said. “He connects well with juries.”

Harris’ diligence and his dedication earned him the recognition of being honored with the 2004 Solicitor’s Award for Spartanburg County Law Enforcement Excellence. Harris accepted the award during Solicitor Gowdy’s law enforcement appreciation dinner at Cleveland Park. His prize package includes a commemorative plaque, a certificate to drive a new BMW for a weekend and two pit passes to the upcoming Nextel Series race in Darlington. Harris and Todd Parker, the Solicitor’s Award Winner from Cherokee County, will have their photos displayed on a billboard donated by Fairway Outdoor Advertising Co.

A committee of police officers from several police departments nominated and named Harris the winner of the Spartanburg award.

“There is no better compliment than the recognition of your peers,” Gowdy said. “Ashley makes a difficult job look easy.”

Harris started working for the Sheriff’s Office on March 1, 1999. He served as a State Law Enforcement Division chemist prior to assuming his current position. In his first few months on the job as a deputy, he opened the county’s first crime lab at Wofford College. The installation of a local drug lab changed the landscape for the prosecution of drug cases in Spartanburg. Prior to the opening of the lab, SLED lab technicians in Columbia analyzed evidence collected in local cases. The process often took months. Prosecutors also struggled to get Columbia-based lab technicians to come to court to testify in Spartanburg.

“When the drug analysis is available to quickly review and turn over to the defense to review, we can control our court docket in a more efficient manner,” Gowdy said.

Recently, Harris has been actively involved in the local police response to the spread of Methamphetamine. The increase in the demand for the drug has led to an increase in the number of meth labs to crop up around the area. Harris has already processed 16 labs this year.

Harris is one of four local officers to be nominated for the award. Solicitor Gowdy recognized Investigator Diane Lestage of the Sheriff’s Office, Brian Stokes of the Spartanburg Public Safety Department and David Price of the South Carolina Highway Patrol for their contributions to their respective departments.

More than three dozen sponsors supported the dinner. The donor list includes American Security, Billy D's Grill, BMW Manufacturing, Bronco Restaurante, Charter Communications, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Christine Tanguay, Coca-Cola Bottling Company – Spartanburg, CWS Insurance, David White, Divas on Main Street, Ed Mabry, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, Farrell Chevrolet-Kia, Fire Mountain Grill, First National Bank of Spartanburg, Forever Young, Gibbs International, Gooney Bird's Sports Grill, Little Ceasar's Pizza, Linpac Paper, Mary Black Hospital, Nextel Communications, Outta Boundz & Village Greens Golf Club, Vic Bailey Automotive Group, Palmetto Grill, Pam Evans, Papa John's, Phoenix Racing, Spartanburg County School District #1, Spartanburg Water System & Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District, Sysco Food Services, Taco Dog and The Palmetto Bank.