Christopher Matthew Harrington ’04, M ’19

Clemson University Police Captain Christopher M. Harrington of Pendleton has two Clemson degrees. He graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and earned a master’s degree in public administration in 2019. He is also a Distinguished Graduate of the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy.

Chris worked as a student patrolman when he was an undergraduate and began his professional career in 2005 as a University police officer. After serving as a sergeant and lieutenant, he was promoted to captain in 2021. His current responsibilities include leadership of the Investigative Support Services Bureau as its commander.

Among his many recognitions, Chris was named an Honorary Colonel of Army ROTC’s Fightin’ Tiger Battalion in 2015 and was the Division of Student Affairs Employee of the Year for 2018. He was honored for his life-saving actions in response to a mental health crisis is 2017.

His leadership in arranging specialized training in force de-escalation, mental health crisis response and active bystandership skills has helped officers across the Upstate mitigate potential dangers to themselves and private citizens. He has been the principal investigator for more than $300,000 in funding from sources such as a Justice and Law Enforcement Mental Health Coordinating Grant and the COVID Emergency Supplemental Funding Program.

He is active with the Police Executive Research Forum and participated in its Senior Management Institute for Police in 2019. He also participated in a collaborative Racial Equity Institute sponsored by Clemson University and AnMed Health in 2019 and a year later was a panelist for AnMed Health’s Connect 2020 diversity and inclusion symposium.

He and his wife, Whitney, volunteer at NewSpring Church, where they attend with their two children.