Sgt. Ron Harrison: Always kind, always there

Sgt. Ronald Harrison's friends and family fly from around the country to remember him.

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET and ALEXANDRA ZAYAS, Times Staff Writers
Published August 17, 2007

TEMPLE TERRACE - Reginald and Tanisha Drummond sat on the floor of their mother's living room, trying to pick out the perfect pictures for their stepfather's funeral.

There he was, over and over. Ronald "Ron" Harrison, the veteran Hillsborough County sheriff's sergeant who was killed by a gunman early Wednesday in Brandon.

Posing with one daughter after her high school graduation. Helping his stepson suit up for prom. Coaching youth football in Temple Terrace. Wearing a clown costume on Halloween.

They tucked the photos into a folder to give to friends from the Sheriff's Office, who are preparing a display for Tuesday's funeral at Idlewild Baptist Church.

Already, family and friends are streaming in from across the country to mourn Harrison, whom they described as a family man who loved helping others - on and off the job.

My Harrison, 51, flew in from Memphis, where she heads an FBI field office.

Thirty years ago, as a University of South Florida student studying law enforcement, she went on her first ride-along in Ronald Harrison's patrol car.

"He helped me learn the job of being a police officer," she said. "I think I reached the heights that I did because of the initial influence from him."

He taught her how to handle guns and write reports. They married in 1981 and divorced in 1989.

"His interpersonal skills were unparalleled," she said. "Even though we were divorced, we kept in touch. He was genuinely a nice guy."

When daughter Ronnee Harrison was 7 years old, her dad awed her with murder-scene re-enactments. He would lie on the floor and tell her to figure out how he died. She now aspires to profile serial killers.

Sister Nitika Jennings is a detention corporal with the Sheriff's Office.

Their father had a tradition of taking his daughters on a fancy date when they turned 13. He opened doors and pulled out chairs for them. The purpose: to show them how a man was supposed to treat them.

"It raised the bar for any man," said Ronnee Harrison, 23.

It's hard for her to think he won't be able to give her away at her wedding.

"As a daddy's little girl, I can't imagine that."

Ronnie consulted her father on almost every decision in her life. He never sugar-coated his answers and picked up the phone day or night, off-duty or on.

They also learned the dangers of their parents' professions at an early age.

"With both of your parents in law enforcement, it's important to say I love you," said Jennings, 34.

Harrison also coached youth football and put four children through college.

"He took good care of us. He made sure we always had everything we needed," said Reginald Drummond, 24. "And he influenced all my friends. If any of our friends had problems, they would come to our house."

Helping others was one of the highlights of Harrison's job, Drummond said.

He was very serious about his work but also had a lighter side, Sheriff David Gee said in a statement Thursday.

"Ron had a dry sense of humor which he would display without warning," Gee said. "His laughter wasn't loud but it was genuine and sincere. He listened more than he spoke. And he never placed himself above his badge."

First impressions were important to Harrison, even when he wasn't working, according to his cousin Artesa Bohannon, 49, of Winston-Salem, N.C.

"Anytime he was visiting here, we always made sure that the ironing board and the iron were set up and the starch was out," she said, "because we knew no matter what, he was going to be pressing something."

As Reginald and Tanisha Drummond prepared to meet with other family members Thursday afternoon, a group from Mothers Against Drunk Driving knocked at the door. They said they had worked closely with Harrison.

"Your dad was an awesome guy," Linda Unfried told them. "God bless you all."

She climbed up the narrow stairwell and hugged Reginald and Tanisha. Then she handed them several angel votive candles.

"We give these out at our candlelight vigils. Angels are always themes at the vigils," she said. "And your dad is always, always there."

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this story. Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 813 661-2454.

Fast Facts:

Final salutes

The funeral for slain Hillsborough County Sheriff's Sgt. Ronald Harrison will be held Tuesday afternoon.

There will be a visitation Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 Chipco St. in Tampa.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18375 N Dale Mabry Highway, followed by a graveside service at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 E Lake Ave.

Sgt. Harrison's survivors include a daughter, Ronnee Harrison, 23, and stepchildren Nitika Jennings, 34, Reginald Drummond, 24, and Tanisha Drummond, 26.

[Last modified August 17, 2007, 01:41:03]