Undersheriff Mike Hairston served as the SJCSO’s Chief Criminal Deputy from March 2021 to December 2022, supervising the Sergeants on each island and the patrol deputies. He also updated the SJCSO’s policies and oversaw its training program. Mike joined the SJCSO in January 2020 as a deputy on Orcas Island. Mike moved to Orcas from Dallas, Texas where he spent 31 years in law enforcement with the last 15 years in police administration. During his career, he also served as a hostage negotiator, an accident reconstruction expert, and firearms instructor. He currently teaches leadership development for the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association and for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. At the University of North Texas, Mike earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Arts and Science and a Masters Degree in Public Administration.