Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Training ends with a certification test in October
COLFAX - Meet Erica Warren, the newest addition to the Colfax Police Department.
At 39 years old, Officer Warren has already accumulated prior experience in several law enforcement roles.
Upon graduating from the Idaho Police Academy in 2015, she embarked on her career in public service at her first position in the Bonner County Police Department in Idaho.
After that, she spent over five years working as a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Force, where she served as a school resource officer for several years.
Her dedication to the role saw her become a field training officer and eventually earn the rank of sergeant at the reservation department.
However, she says she recognized the signs of burnout and decided to step back from her role.
Taking a couple of years off to travel and recharge, Warren says she had her eyes set on returning to law enforcement when the right opportunity presented itself.
“I was waiting for the right place to come along,” said Warren.
Having met Colfax Police Chief Bruce Blood on several occasions due to their shared background from Spokane County’s City of Fairfield, she decided to take a look into the Colfax Police Department.
Warren said she spoke with other officers and took part in ride-alongs to gain a deeper understanding of the department’s inner workings.
“I really picked Bruce’s brain,” said Warren, “I felt that his philosophy of how he operated the department was really what I was looking for.”
She says her interactions with Chief Blood and insights into his department convinced her that this was the right place to continue her career.
Warren officially joined the Colfax Police Department on June 5th, and she brings with her years of experience from across state lines and a desire to work collaboratively with the community.
Warren says that the most rewarding part of her job as a law enforcement officer is the opportunity to interact with different people in the community.
As a new officer at Colfax, Warren went through a field training program, which was shorter than the typical 13-16 week period due to her being a lateral hire.
She successfully completed the field training portion of her introduction to the force and is currently undertaking a two-week coursework as per Washington state requirements.
This training culminates in a certification test in October in Spokane, which will cement her credentials as a police officer in the state.
Reid Thompson is an intern reporter at the Whitman County Gazette. Reid is enrolled at Syracuse University, where he studies journalism and international relations.
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