Stephen C. Harrell is a second generation Tulare native with family that first settled in the area in the early 1900’s. After graduation from Tulare Union High School, he went to work as a fireman with the California Division of Forestry in Fresno, which was a continuation of his volunteer fireman service in Tulare County which began when he was fifteen years old. After a year as a fireman, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for four years. During his Air Force service, he was stationed in Florida and deployed to The Republic of South Korea. While in the Air Force, Steve attended the United States Air Force Institute majoring in criminology.
Following his service in the Air Force, Mr. Harrell returned home to Tulare to begin his career in criminal justice. Mr. Harrell was hired by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff where he served for five years, working out of the Porterville and Tulare substations before transferring to Headquarters as an acting sergeant. Thus began Mr. Harrell’s 25-year career with the Tulare Police Department where he became the first EMT in the department. He also worked part-time as an EMT with the Tulare District Hospital.
During his time with the Tulare Police Department, Mr. Harrell received an A. A. Degree in Criminal Justice from College of the Sequoias as well as a B. S. Degree in Psychology from California Coast University. Mr. Harrell served on the Tulare County Emergency Medical Care Committee for 20 years and chaired the committee for 10 of those years. After a lengthy career with Tulare P. D., Mr. Harrell retired as a lieutenant.
Following retirement, Mr. Harrell became a certified personal trainer working at Evolutions Fitness and Wellness Center as well as assisting his wife, Barbara, with her business Fitness by Design. Mr. Harrell left behind personal training to work for Tulare County Consolidated Ambulance Dispatch as the Director of Communications. He has also served on the Tulare County Independent Ambulance Committee as its chair since 2009. In 2017, Mr. Harrell was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Tulare Local Health Care District Board of Directors (District 1). He ran for a four-year term in 2018, and after running unopposed, he was appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
Over the years, Mr. Harrell has coached AYSO soccer as well as teaching TCOVE classes in law enforcement. He served in all leadership positions in the First Methodist Church of Tulare from 1980 – 2019.
Mr. Harrell is married to Barbara who works at the LifeStyles Center, Evolutions, and her own business Fitness by Design. Mr. Harrell has two sons from his previous marriage, and the couple has two grandchildren.
Contact Information
Email Councilmember Harrell
Phone Number: (559) 688-6348
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