His professional background includes work with the Washington State Department of Corrections, Mason County Jail, and several police departments across Washington.

Born and raised in Olympia, Backus attended Capital High School, where he balanced his education with an interest in baseball and football. He later earned an associate degree from South Puget Sound Community College before completing a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology at Saint Martin’s University in 2010. His academic achievements helped him secure partial scholarships during his university education.

Backus began developing his professional experience in corrections before expanding into municipal policing. His career has included serving as a reserve police officer with the Shelton Police Department and working as a police officer in Tukwila, Tenino and Grand Coulee.

Working across different departments has given Backus experience with varying community needs, workplace structures and professional responsibilities. He has developed a particular interest in the importance of police training and the role community relationships play in public safety.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Backus remains active through softball, fitness, camping, hiking and fly fishing. He also places considerable importance on family life.

Today, his professional outlook centres on continuous learning, practical preparation and encouraging stronger connections between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

Christopher Backus on Career Growth, Policing and Community Trust

Your career began with a strong academic foundation. What first drew you towards criminal justice?

Growing up in Olympia, I was always interested in activities that required discipline and teamwork. I played baseball and football throughout my childhood, and those experiences influenced how I approached responsibilities as I got older.

When I started thinking about my future, criminal justice appealed to me because it involved working with people, understanding rules, and taking responsibility for difficult decisions.

I attended South Puget Sound Community College before continuing at Saint Martin’s University. Studying criminal justice gave me a better understanding of the legal system, while my minor in psychology helped me think more carefully about human behaviour. Both subjects were relevant to the career I wanted to pursue.

You worked in corrections before gaining experience in municipal policing. What did that transition teach you?

Working in corrections gave me an early understanding of how much responsibility comes with a law enforcement position. My experience included working for the Washington State Department of Corrections and at Mason County Jail.

Those environments are different from working as a police officer on the street. In a correctional facility, you’re responsible for maintaining structure and following established procedures while dealing with people in challenging circumstances.

When I moved into policing, I had to adapt to a different set of daily responsibilities. It reinforced the importance of being flexible and understanding that every position within law enforcement has its own demands.

How did serving as a reserve police officer in Shelton influence your professional development?

Serving as a reserve officer with the Shelton Police Department was another part of building my experience in law enforcement.

Reserve policing offers a different perspective from working in a correctional setting. You become more familiar with the responsibilities of a police department and the importance of interacting with the public.

What stands out to me about developing a career in this field is that there’s always more to understand. Education gives you a foundation, but experience helps you recognise how much judgement and communication matter in everyday situations.

You’ve worked in Tukwila, Tenino and Grand Coulee. How does policing differ between communities?

Every community has its own characteristics, and departments have to understand the people they serve.

Tukwila, Tenino and Grand Coulee are different places. Working across those departments gave me exposure to different environments rather than spending my entire career in one community.

One thing I’ve taken from that experience is that you can’t assume the same approach will work everywhere. Officers need to understand local expectations, listen to residents and become familiar with the communities where they work.

The professional responsibilities may be similar, but the relationships and circumstances surrounding the job can be quite different.

What is one area of police training you believe deserves more attention?

I’d like to see continued professional training treated as a regular part of the job rather than something officers complete only when required.

There’s a difference between knowing a procedure and having the confidence to apply what you’ve learnt. Repetition helps people become more familiar with their responsibilities and recognise where they need improvement.

I also think departments benefit when officers share knowledge and learn from one another. Someone with years of experience may have a useful perspective, while a newer officer may bring knowledge from more recent education.

Training should be an ongoing process throughout an officer’s career.

Why do you place particular importance on police engagement with young people?

Young people are still developing their understanding of authority, responsibility and how their communities operate. I think it’s important that their interactions with police aren’t limited to difficult situations.

When officers participate in community activities or have opportunities to speak with younger residents, it can help create a more familiar relationship.

Not every interaction needs to involve a serious conversation about policing. Sometimes being approachable and taking an interest in the community can make a difference.

I believe those relationships are worth developing early because the way young people view law enforcement can influence how they interact with officers later in life.

Has your background in competitive sports influenced how you work with colleagues?

Absolutely. Baseball and football are team sports, and you quickly learn that everyone has a responsibility. You can’t expect one person to carry the entire team.

That lesson applies to working in a police department. People have different roles, and everyone needs to understand how their work affects their colleagues.

Sports also taught me the importance of staying active and maintaining discipline. I still play softball today, and working out remains part of my routine.

Those activities are enjoyable, but they also give me something familiar outside work.

Looking ahead, what would you like to see change in the law enforcement profession?

I’d like to see continued emphasis on professional development and stronger relationships between police departments and their communities.

Law enforcement is a career where people can always improve. Officers need opportunities to develop their skills, learn from experience, and adjust to changing expectations.

I also believe community engagement should remain a priority, particularly when it comes to younger people. Building familiarity and understanding takes time, and it can’t happen through occasional interactions alone.

For me, a successful career isn’t just about the different positions you’ve held. It’s also about what you’ve learnt, how you’ve treated people, and whether you continue making an effort to improve.

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