City employees, residents, and other well-wishers gathered at City Hall in Independence yesterday to bid farewell to outgoing Chief of Police Jerry Harrison.

 Around 50 people attended the reception to say good-bye to Harrison and wish him well on his new position as police chief in Lebanon, MO. Independence City Manager Kelly Passauer presented Harrison with a personalized drawing by Independence artist Steve McBride.

Among attendees were city commissioners Tim Emert, Dean Hayse, and Scott Smith as well as former mayor Louis Ysusi. Parsons Deputy Police Chief Dennis Dodd also attended.

The reception also allowed the community to meet Interim Police Chief David Hutchings. Hutchings stated that part of his job would be to help the city find a new chief of police as good as Jerry Harrison.