A teacher, a leader, a connector of people, a relentless spirit of service—these are how others describe Lt. Mitch Harrington. One way Mitch never wants to be described: a hero. That said, one might add humble to the list of attributes.
From his perspective, he is simply doing his job—a job he dreamed of since childhood.
Mitch always wanted to be a police officer, influenced at an early age by his uncle in South Carolina, who “had the best stories to tell and definitely had the coolest car with the ‘gumball light’ on top.”
Those who know Mitch would say his storytelling skills and passion for service were inherited from his uncle. Mitch began his career with the Cookeville Police Department in 1988, following his service in the U.S. Army.
He leads by example, encouraging his officers to treat others with respect, fairness, and dignity.
Mitch strives to understand people from various walks of life, remain aware of perceptions, and demonstrate integrity.
“The people who have positively influenced my life have integrity first,” says Mitch. “Integrity is the one thing no one can take away from you.”
Integrity and leading by example have resulted in many professional achievements for Mitch, including Officer of the Year from the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, as well as a Medal of Valor and a Purple Heart from the Cookeville Police Department. He and his former K-9 partner, Speedy, received top regional and national rankings for consecutive years. Mitch is also an award-winning motorcycle skills competitor and credits Chief Randy Evans and Captain Randy Brown for the opportunity to earn Motorcycle Instructor Certifications from Northwestern University and Texas A&M.
While he has countless career honors, Mitch considers his greatest accomplishments to be his sons. There is no doubt his servant’s heart influenced their paths. He shares with great pride that one is a youth minister, firefighter, husband, and father, while his youngest is an accomplished U.S. Air Force Combat Controller specializing in special operations.
Another meaningful accomplishment is Mitch’s leadership of his own charitable organization, Harrington For Hope.
After sustaining life-threatening injuries during a tragic house fire call in 2016, Mitch became aware of Camp Hope, a summer camp for children who are burn survivors. Already holding a special place in his heart for children, the cause became a mission—a way to take a devastating experience and turn it into something good.
His ability to share his passion for people and his willingness to serve has allowed Harrington For Hope to grow each year, impacting the lives of the children who attend camp, the counselors and nurses who volunteer, and the Cookeville community that supports the annual fundraiser. More information can be found at harringtonforhope.org.
-written by Molly Brown, photos by Katelyn Steakley
