Chris Olson was appointed Assistant Vice President and Chief of Police in December 2023, after serving as interim police chief since May 2023.

Olson started his law enforcement career in 1992. His career began with the Pima College Police Department but then transitioned to the University of Arizona Police Department, where he served as an officer, field training officer, police canine handler, and motorcycle officer from 1994 to 2001.

In September of 2001, Olson became a member of the Oro Valley Police Department. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2004 and then to lieutenant in 2006, where he served as the executive officer, and oversaw the specials operations and patrol bureaus. In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of commander, most recently serving as the field services division commander.

His educational background includes a Master of Education in Human Relations from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Park University. He is a graduate of the 331st Class of the Northwestern University School of Staff and Command, as well as the 244th Session of the FBI National Academy.

Olson is a Roadway Safety Committee member of the International Association of Chief of Police, Executive Adjunct Board Member of the FBINAA AZ Chapter, and a training committee member of both the FBINAA and the Arizona Association of Chief’s of Police.

Olson is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of Arizona, teaching Police Accountability for the School of Government and Public Policy.

Hosts Pete Cummings and ACJC Deputy Director Tony Vidale. Tony interviews Oro Valley Police Chief, Kara Riley. They discuss her career and offer insights into past academic and work experiences that helped shape her work as a police chief in Arizona.

Host Pete Cummings talks with ACJC Deputy Director Tony Vidale. Tony discusses his career and offers insights into past academic and work experiences that helped shape his work at the Commission.

Host Tony Vidale talks with Matt Bileski, the Data Integration, Analytics, and Optimization Program Manager for the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Matt discusses his new role and offers insights into past academic and work experiences that helped shape his career. Matt also shares his vision for future criminal justice data sharing and dissemination.

Host Tony Vidale talks with Heather Bohnet, the Victim Services Program Manager for the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Heather discusses her role as the Victim Services Program Manager and offers her past academic and work experiences that helped shape her career. Heather also gives insight into her management of the victim services program and the challenges she faces in her role.

Host Tony Vidale talks with Andy LeFevre, the Executive Director of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Andy discusses his role as the Executive Director and offers his past work experiences that helped shape his career. Andy also gives insight into his leadership of the agency and what qualities he appreciates in his leadership team and staff members.

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission’s podcast Working for Justice includes talks with people working and making a difference in the criminal justice system. We hope to have great conversations with agency heads, people brand new in the field of criminal justice, and anyone in between. We will talk with people filling roles that are obvious in the criminal justice system such as police officers, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, and corrections officers. We will also include people working in less obvious roles but critically important such as program managers, researchers, and advocates.