One of the oldest community colleges in California, MJC has two main campuses in the city of Modesto and serves more than 18,000 day and evening students each semester.
Located near the city of Sonora in the wooded Sierra Nevada foothills, Columbia College is a primary resource of adult learning for residents throughout the Mother Lode region.
The role of the Public Safety Department's campus safety staff is to enhance the quality of life for the entire campus community by maintaining a secure and open environment where the safety of all is well balanced with a strong commitment to professionalism and customer service. Using a proactive approach the department partners with the community, local law enforcement and fire services in the protection of the college.
The YCCD Public Safety Department consists of a campus safety department within each college which operates in the protection of our campus community, and provides support to college staff and students in subjects of crime prevention, personal defense, and emergency preparedness. The campus safety departments operates 24-hours a day and covers three shifts.
Harry A. Davis currently serves as the Interim Director of Campus Safety for the Yosemite Community College District. He was originally hired by the District in 2013 as a Lead Campus Safety Officer and later promoted in 2020 to Campus Safety Operations Manager and Title IX Investigator. Since that time, he has played a key role in strengthening campus safety operations, emergency preparedness, student support initiatives, and interagency coordination across the District.
Born and raised in Big Spring, Texas, Harry began his public service career at the age of 19 when he enlisted in the United States Army as a Military Police officer. During a distinguished 21-year military career, he served in numerous leadership and operational assignments including Police Officer, Urban Warfighter, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team member, Commander, Criminal and Traffic Investigator, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Rear Detachment Commander.
Throughout his military service, Harry completed several advanced leadership and professional development programs, including the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, and the Rear Detachment Commander Course. His military career was defined by operational leadership, crisis management, investigative work, and the mentorship and development of soldiers under his command.
Following his retirement from the Army, Harry transitioned directly from military camouflage to civilian law enforcement blue, accepting a position with the Department of the Army Civilian Police as a Supervisory Police Officer and Watch Commander for the Department of Emergency Services at Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood.
After leaving federal civilian service, Harry continued supporting military and security operations overseas with Combat Support Associates, where he served as a Police Field Training Officer and Explosive Detector Dog Handler in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Eventually returning to the United States, Harry settled in California, where he met his wife and began attending classes at Modesto Junior College. His passion for public safety and community service ultimately led him to join the Yosemite Community College District, where he has dedicated himself to fostering a safe, supportive, and service-oriented environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Today, Harry is recognized for his steady leadership, operational experience, commitment to student safety, and decades of service in both military and educational public safety environments.
