POLICE Inspector Mervyn Harris was Saturday eulogised as a giant in his profession who earned the respect and admiration of not only his colleagues, but of his adversaries.

“Very honest, very fair, and just, he commanded respect amongst criminals, peers, subordinates and superiors,” was how Dr Neil McGill, the member of parliament for Western St Mary, remembered Harris, who died suddenly on August 20 in Hanover.

Harris had given 33 years service to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the last 14 of them at the rank of inspector.

On the day he died, he had complained of feeling chest pains while on duty. His passing proved a painful double blow to his colleagues, coming just one day after he received confirmation that he had been promoted to the rank of acting deputy superintendent.

“I knew him for 20-odd years as a brother, father, advisor, confidant, protector,” Dr McGill said, “Wherever he was and we were, we felt protected… as a friend, we find “Harro” the real human being.”

McGill, who also brought condolences from Prime Minister P J Patterson, said that although Harris came from a humble home, he “was a giant, not only physically, but in terms of his achievements”.

Among those achievements are 17 commendations earned for outstanding work in various areas of policing; a medal of honour in 1992; and a meritorious service award from the governor-general which he received last year.

Detective Inspector Harris was born in Nonesuch, Portland in 1950 and left home at age 16, intent on becoming a cop. He enrolled in the police training school at Port Royal, graduated in June 1970 and was sent to work at Port Maria, St Mary.

Over time, he served in St James, Trelawny, St Ann, St Catherine, Westmoreland and Hanover, where he was in charge of crime at the time of his death.

Five years after taking up duties as a rookie constable in St Mary, Harris was promoted to the rank of acting corporal in 1975. Two years later, he was made a corporal. In 1986, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and made the inspector list in 1989.

In 1982, while he was stationed at Trelawny, Harris was seriously injured by a gunman’s bullet. McGill, in his eulogy, recalled that incident and reminded the congregation that it was highlighted in a Western Mirror feature on Harris who that newspaper said would “go down in history as one of the finest cops Jamaica has ever seen”.

The Police Federation agreed. “He was a mentor and had such a charismatic personality,” they said in their tribute. “His grit and determination were evident in the no-nonsense way in which he approached his profession. He was always quick on location at each and every crime scene and his intelligence and acumen resulted in the apprehension of the felons. These admirable traits he possessed gained him much respect and admiration. He was a great crime fighter.”

The Hanover CIB, in their tribute, said Harris was a man for all seasons who carried out his duties diligently and in a professional manner.

Reverend Dr Vivian Panton, the constabulary’s chaplain, who delivered the sermon, stressed the importance of having peace with God and urged Harris’ family to have hope for the future.

Superintendent of police in charge of crime for Area One, John Morris, choked with emotion during his tribute. “We’re going to miss your friendship, your laughter; the whole world is worse off without you,” he said.

But policewoman Patricia White could not contain herself and wept openly after her remembrance.

Douglas Waite, one of Harris’ former colleagues, however, brought some smiles and laughter as he recalled their early days in the job when they were partners and earned the nicknames ‘Batman and Robin’ because, he said, of their vigilance.

“We never lost a case in court as we always prepared and rehearsed,” Waite recalled, much to the amusement of the congregation.

“The JCF has lost a giant, Jamaica a dedicated servant whose space is difficult to fill,” Waite concluded.

Harris’ body was interred in the Ocho Rios cemetery.