His illustrious and accomplished career includes:

1. Initially working as a clerk/cashier in the Barclays Bank between 1974 and 1977.
2. Appointed to Research Bureau Nig. Ltd. Between 1977 and 1978.
3. Graduated as a Police Cadet Inspector n 1979 from the advanced wing, Police College, Ikeja, Lagos. He was among 10 Nigerian Police Officers sent for a foreign course at (Bishop Garth) Academy, Wakefield, UK in 1981,
4. Posted to Bauchi where he served as a staff officer, training instructor, and CID sectional head, between 1981 and 1983.
5. Worked at the State CID, Ondo State Police Command between 1983 and 1985.
6. He was the National Nigerian Police Basketball team Captain during this period.
7. Served as a staff officer for administration, District Police Officer and Divisional Police Officer in the Borno State Police Command in 1986.
8. He was eventually transferred to Yola and later drafted to the force CID special anti-robbery squad, Adeniji Adele, Lagos as a superintendent of police.
9. Served as Chief Operations Officer for the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) which led to hundreds of arrests and arms seizures.
10. Led the Nigerian Police Contingent in Angola on a Peace-Keeping Mission under the auspices of the United Nations (UNAVEM).
11. Upon his return in 1997, he continued to serve at the FSARS Force CID until 1999, and then Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Delta State.
12. Promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police and posted to Jos.
13. Redeployed as the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Operations in the Lagos state Police command.
14. Appointed to various assignments, including special operations that led to the dislodgement of Bakassi Boys in Onitsha in 2003, OPC Militia in Lagos between 2004 and 2005, and the MASSOB insurgence in Anambra State in 2006.
15. Promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police and appointed to take over Administration of the Anambra State Police Command.
16. In 2007, he was transferred to FCT Police Command as Commissioner of Police. Haruna John through his motivational efforts was able to improve tremendously the outlook and attitude of Policemen in the Federal Capital Territory to a more friendly and amiable personnel.
17. In July 2011, he was transferred to the Force Headquarters as Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal operations, then subsequently posted as the Commissioner of Police, Benue State police command, where under his command, over five hundred armed robbery suspects and cultists were arrested and large scores of arms and ammunition were recovered, all within only two months.
18. In recognition of his excellent command, he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

 DIG Haruna John was also an accomplished academic. His records include the following:

1.  An Advanced Diploma Certificate in Law, security and conflict resolution;
2.  General Investigation course at Wakefield, UK, 1981 (Best All-Round Commonwealth Student);
3.  Police Management Course, University of Jos, 1983;
4.  Advance Detective Course, Staff College, Jos, 1997;
5.  Senior Command Course, Staff College, Jos, 2000;
6.  Course on public emergency management for developing countries, China, 2008;
7.  Course on Law Enforcement, Commanding and Decision-Making, China, 2011.

DIG. Haruna John is also a recipient of several awards from notable national and international institutions, some of which include:

1. Commissioner of Police of the best police command (FCT) in West Africa Award, given in South Africa from security watch African awards- 2010;
2. African Outstanding Leader, given in Ghana from Democrat Merit Awards - 2010;
3. Award of excellence and patriotism, from National Association of Northern Nigerian Students - 2010;
4. Security Officer of Honour, from Security Watch Africa – 2009;
5. Most Efficient Crime Fighter, from African Forum Magazine – 2009;
6. Commissioner of Police of The Best Human Rights Compliant Command (FCT-Nigeria) given in Ghana from, Security Watch Magazine – 2009;
7. Commissioner of Police of The Best Crime Bursting Police Command “FCT”(North), from Security Watch Africa Awards – 2008;
8. SERVICOM Champion, from SERVICOM Headquarters, Presidential Villa, Abuja – 2009;
9. Commissioner of Police of The Best Police State Command “FCT” (North-Central Zone, Nigeria) – 2008;
10. Ambassador of Peace, from Universal Peace Federation for World Peace;
11. Exemplary Leadership in Crime Fighting, from Crime Reporters Association Of Nigeria – 2005;
12. Outstanding Performance, from NUJ Merit Award (NUJ Abuja Council);
13. Award for Exemplary Leadership in Crime Fighting, from Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria;
14. Outstanding Crime Fighting Award, from Man-O-War Association of Nigeria;
15. Outstanding Police Award, from Junior Chamber International Nigeria (JCI);
16. Haruna John is a fellow of African Business School (ABS), and the Institute of Corporate Affairs and Business Management (ICAM).

He was happily married to Mrs. Olayinka Bamidele Haruna and jointly they have raised seven children, namely:

Henry John Haruna

Bomby J Haruna

Jennesse Haruna

Abba J Haruna

Opeyemi Joan Haruna

Jesse Haruna

Jemima Haruna

... and several dependants.