Just over a week after the General Election, Harrison Mayor-elect Jerry Jackson has proposed two new department heads for the police and fire departments ahead of the new administration taking over Jan. 1st.The Harrison Daily Times reports Jackson said he will appoint former Fire Chief Marc Lowery to fill that role again and Arkansas State Police Cpl. Chris Graddy as police chief to replace current Chief Paul Woodruff.In Arkansas, a mayor names department heads of a city, and they serve at the will of the mayor.
Lowery was fire marshal with the department before being appointed chief by then-Mayor Jeff Crockett in March 2011. He had been with the department for 16 years at the time and replaced then-Chief Richard Webb, who retired.
Lowery served as chief until he retired in May 2014. Then-Capt. Linda DeWald was appointed as interim chief to replace him.
After Mayor Dan Sherrell was elected in 2014, he appointed current Chief Marvin Holt, who was called back out of retirement. Holt announced his second retirement at city council committee meetings last week.
DeWald retired from the department in July and has since been elected to the city council
Crockett also appointed Woodruff as chief in February 2014 when then-Chief Pat Murphy retired. He had been with the HPD for almost 19 years, with an additional five years as an officer in California. He had been a patrolman, an undercover narcotics officer, a detective and supervisor of detectives and was assistant chief for almost three years before being named chief.
Graddy started his career in law enforcement in 1987 as a radio operator for the Harrison Police Department. He also worked for Springdale Police, Boone County Sheriffs Office, Logan County Sheriffs office and 23 years with the Arkansas State Police. He will be leaving the State Police with the rank of senior corporal.
Graddy was born and raised in Harrison and graduated from Valley Springs. He serves on the School Board at Valley Springs, the Boone County Fair Board and is a representative for the Arkansas State Police Association.
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