“I always wanted to be a police officer,” said Harrison police Chief Michael Olsey. “I took many exams: court officer exams, police officer exams. But it was all about the timing and the opportunity.”
Now two months into his tenure as chief, Olsey, who sat down with the Review on Tuesday for an interview at police headquarters, said becoming the department’s lead official required a similar amalgam of determination and luck. “Within any organization that I was a part of, I always looked to excel; I’ve always looked to help and give input and strive to get to the top,” he told the Review. “But if the timing wasn’t right and the opportunity wasn’t available when I was here, then I would have missed it.”
Olsey, 46, has served on Harrison’s police force since July 1997, and has spent the last 10 years of his career as part of the department’s executive staff. He became a lieutenant in January 2011.
He took over the department on an interim basis on Oct. 6, 2016 when his predecessor, Anthony Marraccini, resigned while suspended, and was officially sworn in as chief almost two months later, on Dec. 1.
In his first official act as chief, Olsey promoted then Lt. Edward Detlefs to captain—a position which had previously been vacant since 2010—and promoted John Vasta, then a sergeant, to lieutenant.
“You have to surround yourself with competent people that can help with input and can help with the decision-making process,” the chief said.
While chief, Olsey said he will look to build on the programs started by Marraccini, and to push forth his own plans to keep the community safe.
Olsey’s administration will focus largely on drug enforcement, continuing on the efforts of the former chief. In September, under Marraccini’s leadership, the Police Department initiated a program called Heroin Opiate Prevention Effort, HOPE, which allows drug users to forfeit their drugs and paraphernalia to the department without penalty. Olsey said he would keep that program alive, adding that heroin and opiate addicts are often the victims.
But while Olsey would continue to allow leniency to drug addicts, his department will continue to crack down on drug traffickers and dealers. “The people that are selling narcotics are responsible for the demise of that person,” he said.
Olsey said drug enforcement is a key concern of his because he has seen firsthand what drugs can do. When Olsey was in the third grade, his father died of a drug overdose from a mixture of heroin and cocaine. He said that experience has influenced the way he handles drug cases.
But the chief added that opiates are more quickly prescribed and readily available now than they were 30 years ago.
“Long gone are the days where if you went to the emergency room with an injury, the doctor told you to go home and take some Advil or some Tylenol,” he said. “The patients that [are prescribed opiates] need to be educated on how addictive they are. But I think people let their guard down because it’s something given to them by a doctor.”
The chief’s familiarity with the collateral damage of drug abuse has not only influenced his career; it has also influenced his personal life.
Olsey, a lifelong Harrison resident, said he spends most of his free time with his family, including his son and daughter. He said he tries to be heavily involved in their school work and their sporting activities.
“I never had that growing up,” he said, referring to the early loss of his father. “I saw kids that had parents and their fathers would take them to little league tryouts and be there to help and support them. So, now, I feel that I have to do that above and beyond, because I didn’t have that.”
Olsey is taking a hands-on approach to law enforcement, too. He’s introducing several new approaches and programs to enhance the department’s community reach.
A new era has also made the use of technology and social media paramount for the department. Olsey said he has been working to update the town’s Facebook page, giving residents a timely stream of information in case of emergencies and creating avenues for residents to come forward with tips. He added that the goal was to break down the barrier between civilians and the police force.
The chief said he’s also introducing active shooter situation training courses for security guards and employees of schools and businesses within the town. “It’s educating the security personnel and the staff in what to do in the event that an active shooter enters into their building,” he said. “It would help with the survivability rate and would help with communications to get us there as quickly as possible.”
According to Olsey, the police and the residents they protect can never be over-prepared.
