Harkness finds purpose in protecting, serving community

When Zack Harkness was growing up, he didn’t dream of choosing just one career.

“I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement, the fire service, an emergency medical technician and the military,” he said with a laugh during a recent appearance on Bluebonnet News’ Headlines and Heartlines podcast. “So I just figured I’d do it all.”

Looking back, that’s exactly what he has done.

Today, Harkness serves as Liberty County Pct. 6 constable while also working as a firefighter with the Cleveland Fire Department. He recently retired after 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he served in law enforcement and completed deployments to Kuwait, Iraq and along the nation’s southern border. Before that, he patrolled the streets as a Cleveland police officer.

Despite wearing many uniforms over the years, Harkness said every role has been driven by the same purpose — serving others.

Although many people know Harkness as the face of the constable’s office, his journey actually began in California. Born in Houston, he moved west with his mother after his parents divorced and spent much of his childhood in the communities of Hawthorne and Torrance before returning to Texas in 2004 to attend the Angelina College Police Academy.

“Cleveland PD was the first to hire me, and I’ve liked it ever since,” he said. “It’s a great home. It has to be the people here.”

That appreciation for small-town life has kept him rooted in Liberty County ever since.

Harkness credits a D.A.R.E. instructor and a school resource officer with helping shape his career path at an early age.

“They kind of steered me into law enforcement,” he said.

Instead of stopping with one profession, Harkness spent the next two decades collecting certifications and specialized training in nearly every aspect of public safety. His resume includes crime scene investigation, hazardous materials, arson investigation, fire inspections, firearms instruction and numerous Coast Guard qualifications.

“I just keep learning,” he said.

His Coast Guard career proved especially rewarding.

Harkness volunteered for every deployment during his military career, including a year-long deployment to Kuwait and Iraq in 2009 and 2010. While stationed on Iraq’s Al Basrah Oil Terminal, he helped protect one of the country’s most valuable pieces of oil infrastructure.

He later spent four months on the southern border conducting maritime security operations, preventing drug and human smuggling along the Gulf Coast and the Rio Grande.

Although the Coast Guard often receives less recognition than other military branches, Harkness said he wouldn’t trade his experience.

“The Coast Guard was my favorite job,” he said. “The training and the experience I had with them was amazing.”

He retired earlier this year.

Harkness admits he never set out to become a constable.

“I never had a vision of being constable,” he said. “I just knew I wanted better for my community.”

Now in his second term, he oversees one of the county’s busiest precincts, serving Cleveland, Colony Ridge and surrounding areas with a population approaching 100,000 people.

His office handles civil process, evictions, courtroom security, school patrols and countless calls for service, but Harkness said he wants residents to see his deputies as more than law enforcement officers.

“I want to be the law enforcement officer people go to when they need help,” he said. “Even if it’s something we can’t handle, we’re there to listen, walk them through problems and help find resources.”

He also believes visibility matters.

That’s why the Pct. 6 fleet uses clearly marked patrol vehicles instead of ghost graphics.

“I want people to see a law enforcement car in their community,” he said.

Whether wearing a firefighter’s helmet or a deputy’s badge, Harkness has responded to countless emergencies over the years. Flood rescues remain among the most dangerous.

He recalled rescuing residents trapped in rising floodwaters and helping families climb aboard rescue boats while navigating swift currents, hidden debris and rapidly changing conditions.

“It’s dangerous,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for that water.”

One issue weighing heavily on Harkness today has nothing to do with crime. It’s homeless dogs. He said local shelters are overwhelmed, leaving deputies with few options when abandoned or stray animals are reported.

To begin addressing the problem, the Pct. 6 Constable’s Office is partnering with the Houston SPCA to host a community meeting in the coming weeks, bringing together residents and organizations to discuss possible solutions.

“We’re already overwhelmed,” Harkness said. “Maybe if we get everyone in one room, we’ll come up with some ideas.”

Away from work, Harkness and his wife, Liberty County District Attorney Jennifer Bergman, are raising 7-year-old twins, Hudson and Ella.

Between demanding careers, the couple often juggles school pickups, ballgames and practices, but Harkness said they make family time a priority.

He coaches youth sports, enjoys gardening with his family and treasures simple Sunday meals together.

“I enjoy everything,” he said. “Putting them to bed, getting them ready for school, coaching them and watching their personalities develop.”

When asked what he hopes his children remember most about him one day, he said, “I want them to remember me as being a great dad.”

To hear the full interview with Harkness on the Bluebonnet News Headlines and Heartlines podcast, click the link below: