MORGAN PARK — Chicago Police Cmdr. Mark Harmon is well aware that he shares a name with actor Mark Harmon, who plays a special federal agent on the CBS series "NCIS."
"The good thing is if somebody tries to do a Google search on my name it's not going to come up with me," Harmon said .
Harmon, 51, of Garfield Ridge, was named commander of the Morgan Park police district on June 15.
He previously served as a captain in the Chicago Lawn District. Harmon replaces Cmdr. Daniel Godsel, who went on to take the top job in the Bridgeport-based Deering District.
Harmon grew up in Brighton Park and graduated from Kelly High School. His father, Rich, served as a Chicago Police officer for 29 years.
"My dad was a policeman, so that was something I always wanted to do," he said.
Harmon is now a 25-year veteran of the department himself. He has two daughters — ages 15 and 17 — though he doubts they'll follow in the family footsteps.
Harmon credited much of his management style to lessons he learned under Cmdr. James O'Donnell in the Chicago Lawn District. He and O'Donnell have a history that dates back more than two decades.
Indeed, Harmon began his career as a patrolman, spending about five years neighborhoods such as Back of the Yards, Canaryville and Englewood.
As for his latest assignment, he said there's some things that all Chicago neighborhoods have in common. Take the recent arrest of a man charged with stealing copper downspouts from homes in North Beverly for example.
Harmon said that he's dealt with thieves stealing metal for scrap throughout Chicago. But the Morgan Park District is unique in that some crimes are more preventable, such as the rash of break-ins to unlocked cars earlier this summer.
"Some of the challenges of a less busy district is there can be some complacency," Harmon said.
Harmon said he looks forward to meeting as many residents as possible and invited everyone to the Morgan Park District's National Night Out event from 4-8 p.m. Aug. 4 at the police station at 1900 W. Monterey Ave.
The event will include food, games, giveaways, a bounce house and an opportunity for children to receive identification cards.
"I'll talk to anybody," Harmon said.
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