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.