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Tracy Harrison
North Houston District VP of Public Safety
Welcome to the inaugural edition of North Houston Leading Ladies.
In an effort to highlight the talented and forward-thinking women who are creating positive change in our area, we are proud to present a new series: Leading Ladies of North Houston District. In each feature, we will spotlight a woman leader of a business or organization located within, or in active partnership with, the District.
As Harrison nears her 10-year anniversary with the North Houston District, she reflects on strides made in public safety through her leadership and knack for fostering partnerships. Find inspiration in Tracy’s leadership journey from the Marine Corps to law enforcement, corporate realm, and now government.
Her Story
Tracy Harrison served in the Marine Corps for eight years, some active duty and some reserve time. Her time in the military shaped her work ethic as well as her career trajectory. “I had a variety of jobs ranging from financial management and embassy duty to combat weapons instructor. In each role I grew as an individual and learned a lot about leadership, training and teamwork,” Harrison says.
After her military service, Harrison pursued a bachelor’s degree and joined a sheriff’s department in West Virginia, beginning her law enforcement career on patrols and later moving on to sexual assault and child abuse investigations, then narcotics. After becoming a detective, she worked high-profile cases until 2013 when she moved to the Houston area.
Adapt to Succeed
In her experience going from military service to law enforcement to the corporate realm to the nonprofit sector, there was always a transition period. She says learning a new role can take some time, but ultimately, how successful you can or cannot be is up to you. “Learning how to adapt as a leader to what the position calls for is a crucial skill to develop,” she says.
When asked what tip or word of encouragement she would give to her younger self, she offered this: “Persevere. Always keep going. If you’re told ‘no’ 50 times, try again until you get that ‘yes.’ Everyone faces challenges, but you can overcome!”
A Collaborative Approach
As she nears her 10-year anniversary with the North Houston District, Harrison has made huge strides in public safety through her skilled leadership and penchant for collaboration.
“I’m most proud of building a network of people and organizations that work together cohesively toward better public safety outcomes. I’m a good gatherer of people, and I believe that working together for a common goal is always better than everyone doing their own thing,” Harrison reflects.
”We have worked together very closely to decrease crime—it’s evident that working collaboratively through different partnerships and programs is paying off,” she says.
Tracy works with all our local jurisdictions to supplement the hard work of local law enforcement and continually works to deepen public safety partnerships while introducing additional resources, outreach programs, and business training opportunities aimed at crime prevention.
“The statistical data is clear. The results of the programs that Tracy has implemented have made a lasting impact on the District. There is a direct correlation between Tracy’s leadership and oversight and the decrease in crime in our area,”
Colleen Martin, Director of Marketing & Public Affairs at North Houston District.
Accomplishments
In 2022, Harrison graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Services Administration from Texas A&M. She is also CPTED certified, which stands for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, and works to apply different strategies to help prevent crime. Outside of her work at the District, Harrison is involved with the Women Marines Association and enjoys cooking, gardening, and traveling in her spare time.
On May 15, 2024, North Houston District hosted more than 200 of Houston’s finest first responders and community partners in a celebration of the men and women who protect and serve our region. Three community members and 24 public safety professionals were honored. Watch the recap video and a message of thanks. “One of my favorite things to do at work is honor those who go above and beyond and put their lives on the line every day,” said Tracy Harrison, North Houston District Vice President of Public Safety. “For Law Enforcement Appreciation Week, the North Houston District held a Public Safety Awards ceremony where 28 special people were honored. Our staff and partners’ teamwork resulted in a beautiful and memorable ceremony. I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to police, fire and city leadership for attending in support of our local partners.”
Since 1984, the Houston Police Department has organized a crime prevention outreach week in March called #MarchOnCrime. In support of this proactive public safety campaign, Tracy Harrison, NHD Vice President of Public Safety, joins members of the HPD North Belt Division, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Task Force, and the District’s Public Safety Committee for a local program called #KnockAndTalks. This annual public safety outreach campaign fosters one-on-one engagement, allows law enforcement to share useful crime prevention tips with local residents, and helps officers build relationships with the community. Check out the 2024 recap.
connect
Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn to see what she does from here.