Harmon has served as the interim chief since Feb. 2020 following the leave of former Chief Sean Mannix.
"I plan to extend my focus on the critically important issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity that will strengthen our mission to serve the people who live, work, and play in Cedar Park," Harmon said in a city release. "Together we have worked hard to serve our community with honor and I am incredibly proud to take on this new role and to call Cedar Park my home!”
Harmon previously worked in the Travis County Sherriff’s Office and Austin Independent School District Police Department before becoming a patrol officer in the Cedar Park Police Department in 1998. Before his appointment to interim chief, Harmon was the assistant chief since 2013, according to the city.
City Manager Brenda Eivens said the city had a "deliberative and extensive search process involving candidates from across the country," but Harmon became the clear choice, according to the release.
"I am confident that Chief Harmon will continue to effectively lead the department, foster valuable community partnerships and actively engage with all of our residents,” Eivens said.
Mannix's Jan. 2020 resignation followed the Nov. 2019 exoneration of Greg Kelley after he was wrongfully convicted of aggravated sexual assault against a child in 2014. Kelley filed a lawsuit in May 2020 against the city of Cedar Park, Sean Mannix and former CPPD detective Chris Dailey. The lawsuit sought monetary damages against the city, Mannix and Dailey “for committing acts and knowing omissions.” Dailey served as the sergeant and detective assigned to the case, which ended in a wrongful conviction and exoneration. He resigned from the department last July.
The city called for an independent review of the police department in 2017. Recommendations included conducting a staffing analysis, improving supervision and providing more training for those in the criminal investigations division.
