Harry was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1947. From 1969 through 1987, he was employed by the New York City Police Department, first as a Police Officer and then as a Detective. During his tenure with the NYPD, Harry was assigned to the Office of Chief of Operation (currently Chief of Department) and to the Department's Office of Labor Relations, where he represented the Police Commissioner during labor contract negotiations and at administrative hearings. In 1984, during Mayor Koch's administration, Harry was appointed as Assistant Director of Labor Relations and Assistant General Counsel for the Mayor's Office of Municipal Labor Relations ("OMLR"). While at OMLR, he was also named Special Counsel for the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 1987, after more than 18 years of public service, Harry went into private practice. Over the years, he has lectured before the National League of Cities, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), and the International City Managers Association. Harry is a regular guest speaker at Touro Law School and has served on panels sponsored by the New York State Public Employment Relations Board and the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining. Harry has served as an adjunct professor for the Cornell School of Industrial & Labor Relations and is currently a member of the adjunct faculty at Nassau Community College.