More About the Founder

Born and raised in Yonkers, NY, Keith was appointed to the Yonkers Police Department in 1989 at only 20 years old. After only a few years with the YPD, he was elected to a Trustee position with the Yonkers PBA. Keith rose through the ranks of the PBA serving in several positions including 2nd VP, 1st VP and was eventually elected President in January of 2010. Keith has nearly 30 years experience as a union representative, almost 14 years as President of one of the largest and most prominent police associations in New York.

Keith was elected President of the Affiliated Police Associations of Westchester (APA) in 2016 where he has served in that role for more than 7 years. The APA is comprised of more than 40 law enforcement associations throughout Westchester County, NY and represents nearly 5,000 law enforcement officers.

Prior to being elected as President of the Yonkers PBA, Keith served the Yonkers PD in various roles including more than 10 years in patrol on the west side of Yonkers, working a plainclothes detail in the Street Crime Unit, as a Detective in the Major Case Unit and 10 years as a Detective in the YPD’s Gang Unit. He is the recipient of dozens of awards including the prestigous Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) 2007 National Investigative Award for his investigative work alongside the FBI in the takedown of two violent street gangs. Keith has taught at the Westchester County Police Academy on the topic of gang activity.

Keith Olson has negotiated numerous long term collective bargaining agreements for the Yonkers PBA covering a 15 year period, represented in and negotiated countless disciplinary cases and successfully filed dozens of grievances and improper practices with PERB. In 2020, he deftly negotiated a 5% raise for Yonkers PBA members in exchange for accepting a body worn camera program. In 2005 he attended Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation in Cambridge, MA.

Keith has played a key role in dozens of successful political campaigns. Following their successful elections, he was appointed to the political transition teams for Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano (2011), Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino (2016) and Westchester County Executive George Latimer (2017).

Recognizing the importance of the PBA’s role in building trust within the community, Keith Olson spearheaded numerous initiatives to improve community relations. In 2017, Keith founded the Yonkers PBA’s B.R.I.C.K. program. B.R.I.C.K. stands for Building Relationships through Interactions with Cops and Kids. The inaugural B.R.I.C.K. event was held at Saunders High School where a group of Saunders students met with a handful of Yonkers Police Officers. This group of cops and kids had an honest, heartfelt, open discussion on tough topics such as police brutality, police involved deaths and more. This event was a breakthrough success and has been repeated more than a dozen times in Yonkers schools and elsewhere.

Building on the B.R.I.C.K. program, Keith spearheaded the Yonkers PBA’s involvement with the Yonkers Force High School football team. This has proven to be another much needed way of integrating Yonkers Police Officers with local youth. Keith helped organize Yonkers first ever High School football night game, which was held in the fall of 2018 under the lights at Saunders H.S. This game was a massive success, with thousands of Yonkers residents turning out to support the teams. To date, the Yonkers PBA continues to work with and support the Yonkers Force kids by serving them pregame meals and attending games and practices.

Other Notable Achievements

  • Two time guest speaker at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA

  • Named to City & State Westchester Power 100 in 2021 & 2022

  • Inducted to Saunders High School Wall of Fame in 2022

  • FLEOA National Investigative Award in 2007

  • Certified ABLE Project Lead Instructor

  • Two time 1st Place Journal News Police Award

  • Attended Westchester Police Academy Instructor Development School 2020

  • Yonkers PAL Man of the Year 2012

  • Co-creator of the Yonkers Police vs Yonkers Firefighters Toughman Competition

  • Helped raise more than one million dollars for various charities