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Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson presents Don Harshey, director of Community Corrections, with a plaque of appreciation during a retirement party in Harshey's honor Thursday.
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Harshey retires from Community Corrections
Man opened office 25 years ago
FLOYD COUNTY —
Loyal. Tenacious.
Two words Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson used to describe Don Harshey during a retirement party in Harshey’s honor Thursday afternoon.
He was not alone.
Several well wishers greeted Harshey and presented him with gifts and cards in the third floor Assembly Room of the City-County Building. Harshey, who started the Floyd County Community Corrections Department 25 years ago, officially retires today.
“I have mixed emotions,” he said. “The people ... the co-workers. I am going to miss them. But I am looking forward to new challenges.”
Harshey, 64, said those challenges will be teaching a criminal justice class at Ivy Tech Community College two days a week, and enjoying life.
Harshey was the first probation officer in Floyd County before moving on to Jefferson County Circuit Court in 1981. Under the persuasion of former prosecutor Nick Stein and Judge Richard Striegel, during a social encounter in the hallway of the City-County Building, Harshey returned to Floyd County to write a grant and start a Community Corrections Department.
In 1985, he only had one employee and a budget of $45,000. Today, there are 10 employees in the office and a budget of $350,000.
Harshey’s department oversees the home incarceration program as well as other programs designed to help non-violent offenders — young and old — turn their lives around and become productive members of society. Right now Harshey estimates there are 60 people currently in home incarceration in Floyd County.
“We really try to work with non-violent offenders,” Harshey said. “We try to work with those who make us angry, and put the ones who make us afraid in prison.”
Harshey, who spent 27 years in the military, said he knew when he returned from Vietnam in 1969 that he wanted to work with kids after seeing what so many orphans had to live through during the war, and not being able to do anything about it.
“He has so many great ideas. He has pushed through a lot,” said Karen Kruer Bell, who has worked 20 years in the Community Corrections office. “He is so good with coming up with ideas.”
She said there will be a definite void in the office come Monday morning.
“I’ve got him on speed dial,” she said with a laugh.
Harshey was presented with a plaque of appreciation from the county by Henderson along with one from Michael Lloyd, director of transitional facilities and community-based programs for the state.
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