Personnel Files of Officer Joseph Harris Obtained Through FOIA

JONESBORO, Ark. — The personnel file for the fired Jonesboro officer seen in a disturbing video repeatedly striking an inmate has been released.

NEA Report obtained the files through a Freedom of Information Act request made on the day of the termination. Joseph Tucker Harris’ personnel file was not released for several days as police had difficulty reaching him, said Public Information Specialist Sally Smith. Because Harris had the right to request an attorney general opinion on the release, police opted to give him the required time under the law to obtain such.

RAW FILES:

Harris Personnel File_Redacted
Harris PS 22-002 Complaint1
IA 24-053-Harris- Excessive Force- Jonesboro Police Dept

The first of the three PDF files released was the personnel file, itself. Much of this PDF file is routine employment documentation, including Harris signing the law enforcement code of ethics. That code mandates he “develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others.”

The final page of the personnel file is a notice of disciplinary action. This is pertaining to the 2022 video showing Harris slamming a young man for arguing with him. The suspension, which police had previously said was for 22 hours, is shown here as being for 20 hours. The suspension was divided into 10 hours on July 14, 2022 and 10 hours on July 20, 2022.

The second file released is a citizen complaint, listed as internal affairs case PS-22-002. The incident is related to a traffic stop from January 18, 2022. The complaint says at about 9:30 PM, the civilian was stopped on Caraway by Harris, who is described as “screaming” and aggressive throughout the entire encounter. The civilian claims he was pulled over for no reason and that Harris never gave him a reason for the traffic stop, even when asked.

“He should have been professional instead of trying to be SuperCop,” the civilian wrote.

The civilian wrote that he felt harassed by Harris and wanted to meet with the police chief. However, based on the personnel records, Harris was not reprimanded regarding this incident.

The third file released by police relates to the beating of Billy Coram that was captured on video and led to Harris being terminated.

In the complaint, Captain Stephen McDaniel writes that he received a call from Craighead County Sheriff’s Office about the incident. This document states that Deputy Chris Ditto reported the violent outburst seen on camera. Multiple sources have told NEA Report that a Craighead deputy was responsible for alerting authorities to the incident caught on video.

McDaniel observed Harris striking Coram several times in the head and closing the door, striking the top of Coram’s head. Harris returned and used his baton to rub Coram’s sternum “in a very forceful manner,” before again slamming the door on Coram’s head, McDaniel wrote.

Once at the jail, the document says Coram was resistive to jail personnel. As they attempted to control him, Harris came into the booking area. After Coram came near him, Harris attempted to strike him with his left hand.

“When this happened, the jail staff put his arm out and told Harris to stay back,” McDaniel wrote.

The file concludes noting that authorities finally made contact with Harris and he was terminated for using excessive force.

Harris is currently under investigation by Arkansas State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Little Rock office.