Los Alamos Police Department Cmdr. Oliver Morris. Courtesy photo
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Los Alamos Police Department Cmdr. Oliver Morris has been selected to attend the 277th session of the FBI National Academy 10-week professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers at the FBI campus in Quantico, Virg.
Participants are nominated by their agency heads because of demonstrated leadership qualities and is by invitation only. During the 10 weeks, coursework is provided in intelligence theory, terrorism and terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication, and forensic science – all of which serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies at home and abroad and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide.
Each Academy session has approximately 220 officers and includes between 27 and 30 international students. Thousands of international leaders from more than 160 countries have graduated from the Academy.
Classes are offered in the areas of law, behavioral science, forensic science, understanding terrorism/terrorist mindsets, leadership, communication, and health/fitness. Officers participate in a wide range of leadership and specialized training, where they share ideas, techniques and experiences with each other, creating lifelong partnerships that transcend state and national borders.
Commander Morris, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from San Diego State University, was hired by LAPD in 2004 as a police officer. He was promoted to Patrol corporal in 2006, then served as a School Resource Officer for Los Alamos Middle School where he also coached football and track for two years.
Morris was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2008 and Detective Sergeant in 2009. In 2014, he was promoted to Operations Commander. He has been an FBI-certified Bomb Squad Technician on the LAPD Bomb Squad since 2012. He is a member of the Los Alamos Public Safety Association and Regional Coordinator of the Special Olympics New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run. Morris is also the Service Director for the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. Last year he was the Rotarian who came up with the idea of the Club providing a treehouse at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center as a service project.