Harry Ennis, a retired captain of the North Carolina Highway Patrol has announced his plans to run for Sheriff of Harnett County.
“I want our Sheriff’s Department to reflect the strength and goodness of the people of Harnett County,” Mr. Ennis said, “and I want our citizens to know that their Sheriff is honest and open with the people, completely trustworthy. I want them to know that I have the background, the experience and the integrity we need in our next sheriff.”
Mr. Ennis stressed the fact that law enforcement must be “fair” in order to be “effective”. “The high office of Sheriff should never be partisan or political. It’s got to be fair. For rich and poor, black and white, young and old, whether male or female. And we must treat everybody with basic respect. The haves as well as the have nots”
“I’ve learned a thing or two in my 32 years of experience in the Highway Patrol. Good law enforcement is about professionalism and training. Its hard work and doing what’s right. And what’s fair. You have to lead, you have to set an example, and show dignity, respect and humility, not swagger.”
“Look,” Mr. Ennis said, “there are bad people, there’s evil and violence in our culture. There has always been, but let’s not forget something, there’s also good; and the good people far outnumber the bad in this county. It’s what the good people want to do that matters. We have to be true to ourselves, work hard, do what’s right, and what’s fair. As your Sheriff, I am willing to lead and I will be totally truthful in all situations with every single person in this County.”
Ennis was born in Dunn and raised in Buies Creek. He is a graduate of Buies Creek High School. He served two years as a police officer in the Town of Lillington, prior to joining the North Carolina Highway Patrol. In the NC Highway Patrol, he rose through the ranks, retiring as Captain of Troop B including Cumberland, Harnett, Robeson, Sampson, Duplin, Onslow, New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick, Columbus and Bladen Counties.
Mr. Ennis has been active in numerous civic and community affairs including chairman of the State Employees Credit Union Advisory Board in Dunn, longtime membership in the Lillington Lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, 32nd degree Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and a member of the Sudan Shriners International. He is chairman of the board of Pleasant Plains Church in Buies Creek.
Mr. Ennis lives in Buies Creek with his wife of 50 years, Barbara Ogburn Ennis. They are members of the Neills Creek Baptist Church in Angier, where he serves as a Deacon. He has one adult son, Steven, who is married to Jennifer Wilson Ennis. He has four grandchildren.
