Former Monroe police officer completes FBI training program

She worked her way up through the ranks at the Monroe Police Department (MPD), starting out as an officer and eventually becoming the department's deputy chief. And since leaving the MPD in 2012, Kirkland Police Capt. Cherie Harris has continued to set robust professional goals and tackle new challenges.

Her most recent accomplishment, graduating from the FBI's National Academy program in Quantico, Virginia, took place last December. Harris was among 19 women out of a class of 215 participants who attended the 11-week academy.

"This is an exceptional professional and personal accomplishment for Capt. Harris,GÇ¥ said Kirkland Police Chief Eric Olsen in a press release. "The coursework is as intense as the physical fitness training. We are very proud to have had Kirkland represented and proud of her achievement.GÇ¥

The academy-á

Held four times a year, the national academy takes place at the FBI Academy headquarters, on the 547-acre Marine Corps base in Quantico. The academy, which began in 1935, was in its 258th iteration when Harris attended.

Known for being a highly-esteemed professional development opportunity for law enforcement managers, the academy draws attendees from all around the country and other parts of the world.

Harris' graduating class included four attendees from Washington state and boasted a total of 19 women, which, to Harris, was a significant number. When she graduated from Washington state's Basic Law Enforcement Academy at the onset of her career, she was the only woman.

"When I first started at Monroe, we had four women working there,GÇ¥ Harris recalled. "And that was a really high number.GÇ¥

Prospective national academy attendees must be approved by their agency to be considered, and participation is by invitation only. Since a minimum rank of lieutenant is typically required, the other women in Harris' academy class included numerous high-ranking female law enforcement officers.

During her stay in Quantico, Harris bunked with Holly Nicholson-Kluth, who serves as the undersheriff of Douglas County, in Colorado. She enjoyed the camaraderie among the female law enforcement professionals.

"That was a great experience to get some additional networking opportunities with women at this level,GÇ¥ Harris said.

The training

The academy offers a holistic approach to law enforcement education. In addition to stressing physical fitness and academic achievement, the program works to promote an all-around healthy lifestyle by integrating nutrition and stress management into the physical education curriculum. Academy attendees, who earn college credit for completing the academy, also take courses in subjects like forensic science, behavioral science, law, leadership and communication.

The physical fitness program is meant to challenge participants and prepare them for the final fitness test: a 6.1-mile obstacle course known as the "Yellow Brick Road.GÇ¥ According to Harris, the day-to-day physical training regimen emphasized workouts that were high-intensity and low-duration, interspersed with weekly challenges.

"There were times when we only did a 20-minute workout, but we were crawling out of the gym,GÇ¥ Harris said.

The weekly challenges were meant to help Harris and her classmates work their way up to the Marine-built Yellow Brick Road, which served as the culmination of the academy's 11-week physical education program.

The course became dubbed the Yellow Brick Road many years ago, named by Marines who positioned yellow bricks along the pathway so that runners would be able to discern the trail. The hilly, rugged course winds through a thickly wooded area and features different obstacles, including creeks, steep inclines that must be navigated by ropes, barbed-wire fences and cargo nets.

Since 1988, yellow bricks have been awarded to participants once they successfully master the Yellow Brick Road, as a token of their achievement. Harris' yellow brick is displayed in her Kirkland office.

In addition to academic study and physical achievement, the academy also hosts different speakers who gave dynamic lectures based on real-life experiences. Harris was impressed by a presentation given by the director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

"That was a great leadership lesson on how to go into an organization and earn trust,GÇ¥ Harris said. "I liked that GÇô that was a great conversation.GÇ¥

Harris said she's grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend the academy.

"It was a great challenge, it was very rewarding GÇô a lot of esprit de corps,GÇ¥ Harris said. "There were very few people in there for themselves; it was about getting it done and getting it done together.GÇ¥

The experience

Harris, who started her career with the Monroe Police Department in 1996, has more than 20 years in law enforcement. She started her career in 1993 at the Washington State University Police Department in Pullman, while obtaining a bachelor's degree in social sciences. She was hired in Monroe on a lateral transfer and worked there for 16 years. Harris started as an officer, then became a detective and was next promoted to sergeant.

In 2002, she was promoted to operations commander by Chief Tim Quenzer and served in that capacity for several years before being promoted to deputy chief.

When the opportunity arose to try for the captain position in Kirkland, Harris viewed it as a professional opportunity that would give her the chance to take the experience she'd gained in Monroe and apply it on a grander scale.

Harris misses her co-workers in Monroe and said that she would go back in a heartbeat GÇô except for the fact that she loves her current job in Kirkland. As captain of the professional standards division, Harris manages the criminal investigations section, the SWAT and crisis negotiation team, training, policy and procedure development, the school resource officer and the neighborhood resource officers.

Always involved in giving back to her community, Harris was a longtime member of the Monroe Rotary Club and a food bank volunteer. She continues to serve on the Sky Valley Food Bank board of directors.

Harris initially became a police officer because she wanted to help people, and that hasn't changed GÇô it has simply taken on a different emphasis. As captain, she enjoys being able to help oversee her staff's work and enjoys working to ensure that her officers are well-equipped and successful.

"Once you get to this level, you have less contact with people on the street,GÇ¥ Harris said. "Mostly at this level, it's helping my people and ensuring they're doing a good job and have the tools they need to do their job.GÇ¥

To learn more about the FBI National Academy, visit www.fbi.gov/about-us/training/national-academy.-á

To see Harris' press release, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/NewsRoom/KPDNRCapHarrisFBI_s3_p10173.htm.-á