Sergeant Harms began his law enforcement career in
1995 with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department. He spent two years
as a Correctional Officer working in the Main Jail, Medium Security Facility
and Jail Farm settings. He was hired by the Santa Cruz Police Department
in January 1997 as a Police Officer. As an officer he worked in
Patrol, in the Downtown Unit, as an F.T.O. (Field Training Officer), and also
as a Motorcycle Officer. He also spent several years in the
Investigations Bureau as a Persons Crimes Detective until he was promoted to
the rank of Sergeant in 2006. Sergeant Harms returned to the Operations
Division as a Patrol Field Supervisor and in 2007 took over Supervision of the
Downtown Unit (DTU). Sergeant Harms is currently assigned as the
Supervisor of the Community Services Section.
Aside from his regular duties, Sergeant Harms is a Team
Leader on the E.S.U. (Emergency Services Unit), a Certified Motorcycle Training
Officer, a P.O.S.T. certified Driving Instructor and Department Taser
Instructor. Sergeant Harms holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from San Jose
State University.
Officer Joe Hernandez began his law enforcement career with the
Santa Cruz Police Department as a Patrol Officer in the Operations
Division. Officer Hernandez immediately focused his efforts toward
dealing with gang issues within the city of Santa Cruz. Officer Hernandez
has had the opportunity to work several different assignments within the
Department such as, Beach Flats Foot Patrol, Street Crimes Unit, Santa Cruz
County Anti Crime Team, the Gang Task Force and as a Detective.
Each of these assignments included extensive work in
narcotics, prostitution and other gang related activities. Officer
Hernandez has also testified as a recognized Gang Expert in Santa Cruz County
Superior Court.
Sergeant Harms and Officer Hernandez are now assigned to the Community
Services Section of the Santa Cruz Police Department to work on intervention
and prevention programs for at risk youth among other duties.
