Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Paris studied Bible theology and youth ministry
New Colfax Police Officer Tyler Paris' first day back from the police academy was April 29.
COLFAX - Tyler Paris is the newest member of the Colfax Police Department after graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy at the youngest eligible age.
No one in his extended family had been in law enforcement.
It started in San Francisco, during Paris' freshman year of high school. A neighborhood friend who was a police officer invited him to do a ride-along.
"I loved it," Paris said. "It happened by providence. I was invited to that ride-along and it hooked me. I knew I wanted to pursue that profession."
He soon joined the Explorers and, after community college, and went through the police academy in California. Paris decided to wait on working as law enforcement.
"I decided I wanted more life experience," he said.
For three years as the 6-foot, 4-inch, center playing basketball for Multnomah University in Portland, Ore., he studied Bible theology and youth ministry.
Paris was working at a tire distribution center near the Portland Airport when he applied to be a police officer in Colfax.
Married with a young son, Paris was hired and went to Burien last December to begin police academy training for Washington State.
Police academy training needs to be renewed if a person does not become an officer within three years of completion.
He was in a class of 28 but had his own room because of the COVID virus. He was on-site until April 19. His first day back in Colfax was April 29 and he began field training.
"The academy is similar to attending a university," he said. "(It's) very academically-focused."
He becomes a full-time officer in July.
"I like working for a small town," Paris said. "There's more opportunity for community involvement. The people are really respectful."
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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