Police chief declines offer to return to job

Peter Harris has decided not to return as Eastport police chief. He told city council President Billy Boone of his decision on Friday, January 15.
On January 4 the council had voted to reinstate Harris as police chief, after he had been fired by City Manager Thomas Hoskins on September 28. The council vote occurred during an appeal hearing that had been requested by Harris.
Of his decision not to return as chief, Harris says, "At this time I don't think it's what's best for the city and the department. It's better for cohesion. I don't want to be a disruption or a distraction." He believes the city now needs people in leadership, including the department heads, city manager and council, who can work together constructively. "I want people to be at ease, and if I returned I don't think that would be the case."
Boone says the city will now be advertising for a new police chief. He and other councillors had hoped that Harris would return to the position. "I heard nothing negative from anybody about his performance or about anything," he points out.
Saying he was disappointed with Harris' decision, Boone thought that a meeting among the councillors, the police officers, Harris and the city manager possibly could have worked out any issues. While some form of mediation between him and Hoskins had been mentioned by councillors, Harris comments, "I don't want to work under that kind of stress again. That's not good for me."
While Harris says that now is not a good time for him to return as chief, he adds, "If there are changes in the future, my heart and mind are open to returning."
While continuing now to work at the Pleasant Point Police Department, he says he would love to work as a reserve officer for Eastport. "People have supported and encouraged me every step of the way," he says. "Without the support and encouragement of everyone I ran into, it would have been a lot more difficult to do."