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PRESS RELEASE
Acting New York State Police Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli has appointed Captain James J. Harris Jr., Troop B, Zone 2 Commander at SP Canton, replacing recently retired Captain Kevin J. Boyea. Captain Harris began his career with the State Police in December 2003, when he entered the New York State Police Academy and successful graduation placed him at SP Massena as a Trooper.
In 2012, Harris was promoted to Sergeant, and assigned to Troop B, SP Malone, where he worked until being transferred to SP Ogdensburg later that year. In August of 2015, Harris was appointed to Sergeant/Station Commander of the Ogdensburg Barracks.
In April of 2018, Harris was promoted to Lieutenant in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, transferred to Albany and assigned to the New York State Intelligence Center, where he overseen the Criminal Intelligence Unit, Social Media Investigative Unit and the Cyber Division. Later that year Harris returned to Troop B, assigned to SP Ray Brook BCI and then to SP Canton as the Assistant Zone 2 Commander.
In January of 2023, Harris was promoted to Captain and transferred to the New York State Police Academy, Albanyand was responsible for Leadership and professional development for the entire State Police. On April 27th, 2023, Captain Harris was assigned as the Troop B, Zone 2Commander in Canton. Captain Harris will oversee all the Troopers and Sergeants assigned to work the State Police stations located in St. Lawrence County.
Throughout Captain Harris’ career he has had the opportunity to participate in several details, some including the New York State Police response to hurricane Katrina in 2005, assisting citizens of New Orleans for several weeks. In 2020 he was the Member in Charge of Troop B Mobile Field Unit and deployed to Albany and Rochester during the civil unrest. Most recently in September 2022 he deployed to Puerto Rico with a State Police response to assist in the aftermath of hurricane Fiona.
Prior to his State Police service, Captain Harris served in the United State Marine Corps on active duty for nearly eight years and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Captain Harris is a 1996 graduate of Norwood Norfolk Central High School, son of Sandy and Jay Harris of Stockholm, married to wife Christina of 24 years and has spent the last 2 decades in the local community. Captain Harris looks forward to continuing to serve the communities of the North Country and carrying on the tradition of providing the best possible State Police service to its residents.