Olson Also Serves as President of Affiliated Police Associations of Westchester
Keith Olson
By Dan Murphy
The people of Yonkers, and members of law enforcement across Westchester, are tipping their hats and saying thanks for your service-well done, to Yonkers Detective Keith Olson, who retired last week after 34 years in the Yonkers Police Department.
Olson served as President of the Yonkers Police Benevolent Association, (PBA), for the last 14 years. And for the past 7 years, Olson has served as President of the Affiliated Police Associations of Westchester.
We spoke to Olson about his professional career in law enforcement, the changes in fighting crime over his 34 years in the YPD and the more recent changes to NYS criminal law.
On Jan. 8, Olson attended his last Yonkers PBA meeting as President and posted, “All good things must come to an end. 14 years as President of the Yonkers PBA, 34+ with the YPD, 63% of my lifetime as a cop with the greatest police department on Earth. Tonight was my final PBA meeting. Special thanks to all the “old timers” that showed up tonight and an even bigger thanks to all those who allowed me to serve and protect the best cops on the planet. I love and respect you all. Stay safe my brothers & sisters.”
Olson could have started to receive his pension years ago, so why did he continue to work and serve as a member of Yonkers Finest?
“I think you know when it’s time, and that day finally came to me. My mom passed away recently and that solidified it for me,” said Olson.
How is the job of being a police officer different know than it was 30 years ago?
“The job is not the same now, and mostly in good ways. We are more professional, more compassionate, and more efficient, as police officers and as a police department in Yonkers. I am proud to say that I was part of all the changes and the YPD is the best police department around.”
“Usually, the Union leaders don’t get credit for the positive changes, or improvements. We are usually portrayed as the villain. But the PBA was a huge part of all of these improvements and that should not be forgotten.
Olson served as PBA President under four Yonkers Police Commissioners; Ed Hartnett, Charles Gardner, John Mueller, and Chris Sapienza today.
Hartnett came to Yonkers from the NYPD, where he brought a Police monitoring system called COMPSTAT, that the NYPD had used successfully, starting in 1994. COMPSTAT compiles a daily record and review of crimes reported to gather trends and use additional resources in those locations. It was credited with decreased crime rates in NYC.
Olson was an advocate for the YPD using COMPSTAT on the streets of Yonkers and thought that Hartnett was necessary to bring in as Commissioner “to right the ship.”
“I was having conversations with then Mayor Phil Amicone about how we needed COMPSTAT. Many of the people running our department didn’t understand it, and were treating crime like it was the weather, and hoping it wouldn’t rain tomorrow, instead of trying to control it.
“Thirty years ago crime was out of control in Yonkers. Cops were getting the job done but we had no plan. COMPSTAT took the hard work that cops were doing and made it more effective.”
Olson was appointed to the Yonkers Police Department on May 19, 1989 at the age of 20. Keith has served in the YPD’s 4th Precinct, Housing Unit and Street Crime Unit. In 2001 he was promoted to the rank of Detective and soon after was transferred to the YPD Gang Unit where he worked for nine years.
“When I joined the gang unit, we had no relationship with the feds. We were able to form strong partnerships with the FBI, which resulted in huge takedowns of entire gangs, making neighborhoods safe.”
One of the most satisfying moments as a cop for Olson was when he was awarded for his work, and the work of the YPD gang unit along with the FBI, for taking down two gangs in the Riverdale Avenue/ Jackson Street area. He received the prestigious Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) National Investigative Award.
Olson has served as PBA President as crime statistics show that Yonkers has become one of the safest cities of its size in the United States. But recent changes in the criminal laws of New York State, including bail reform and raise the age, have resulted in increases in crime stats in some communities. –but not Yonkers.
“In the wake of George Floyd, the police reforms enacted have had a terrible effect. We have swung the pendulum way too far, with bail reform and raise the age legislation. The politicians in Albany didn’t listen to law enforcement, but the public is now concerned and hopefully it will swing back the other way.”
One of the things Keith is most proud of is his work with various charities for which he has helped raise well over one million dollars. In 2000, Keith co-created and participated in the first Yonkers Police vs. Yonkers Fire Toughman Competition, which features Yonkers Finest boxing Yonkers Bravest. To date, this incredibly popular event has raised more than $750,000 for numerous charities such as the Yonkers P.A.L., Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, Wounded Warriors Fund, Make a Wish Foundation, Westchester School for Special Children, Ronald McDonald House and more. Keith is also proud of his 3-1 record competing in the Toughman.
Another important charity that Keith helped bring to Yonkers is the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and giving survivors long and healthy lives. Since 2008, under Keith’s leadership, the Yonkers PBA has proudly raised more than $630,000 to help cure pediatric cancer.
When the Yonkers Public School decided to merge their 8-9 high school football teams into two, Olson spearheaded the Yonkers PBA’s involvement with one team, the Yonkers Force High School football team. “We do a lot behind the scenes for the kids and help fund some equipment and other needs. But I like being involved and I think it has been successful.”
Keith Olson is Yonkers-through and through. He was born and raised in Yonkers, graduated from Saunders High School, joined the YPD, and never left. While other cops have moved upstate, Olson has stayed in Yonkers for his entire career, raising his family with wife Liza and two sons, Tyler and Sean, in the city that he loves.
“Yonkers has so much to offer. I feel that by continuing to live here in Yonkers and by being a part of the fabric of the city it has made my job as a police officer easier. I have never regretted my decision to stay here.”
In 2016, Keith Olson was elected as President of the Affiliated Police Associations of Westchester (APA.) The APA represents the more than 4,000 law enforcement officers throughout Westchester County. Keith is currently serving in his seventh term as APA President. “I have been a part of the APA from the day I became PBA President in Yonkers. I felt that there was more that could be done, and it needed new leadership. I’m remaining on as President for this year and would like to continue, we will see. “
In September of 2023, Keith founded KO Solutions and Strategies LLC, (https://www.kosolutionsllc.com/) a consulting firm specializing in advising police unions. Keith plans on using this venture to continue to be a staunch advocate for police officers. “I want to remain an advocate for police and police unions and take the lessons I’ve learned in Yonkers and use them in the county and beyond. Police Officers deserve to have a voice in our community and I plan on working toward that goal.”
Olson was also recently named to the faculty of Dedication to Community (D2C) which is a non-profit organization that fosters relationships between police and the community. https://www.dedicationtocommunity.org/.
And Olson is staying in Yonkers. “I want people know, I’m still here, I’m still in the game and I’m staying in Yonkers. I love Yonkers, I consider myself blessed, I’ve had an exciting life.”
Mayor Mike Spano thanked Olson for his service to Yonkers. “A 35-year veteran of the Yonkers Police Department, Keith is a cop’s cop. His passion and commitment to our men and women in blue is unmatched, serving as their loudest and strongest advocate. I congratulate Keith on his legendary career in law enforcement and wish him a happy, healthy and restful retirement.”
