Mike Bassi is currently the Interim Director of the Southern Police Institute. He manages the continuing education and professional development components of the institute, is a faculty member of the Administrative Officer’s Course and manages all operational and administrative aspects of the organization. He has over 25 years of Law Enforcement Experience, most recently as a Lieutenant with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, in Reno, Nevada, where he honorably retired with 21 years of sworn service.
During his time in law enforcement, he has worked a variety of assignments, to include Corrections, Patrol, SWAT, Marine Patrol (Lake Tahoe), Academy Staff Officer and multiple genres of training, including Field and Patrol Training Officer. Mike was also a Detective, serving on the FBI Innocent Images Taskforce, with a primary assignment in Crimes Against Children. He is a third-generation United States Marine, serving as a Military Police Officer in CONUS and overseas assignments.
As a law enforcement leader, he worked line supervisor and watch commander positions in Corrections and Patrol, had supervisory positions in Research/Development and Training and served as SWAT Assistant Team Leader. Additionally, he filled Command roles in Dispatch/Communications, and the Training and Background Investigations Divisions. He was also assigned as the Director of the Regional Public Safety Training Center in Reno and Commander of the Northern Nevada (Regional) Law Enforcement Academy.
Mike served as Vice-Chair of the Washoe County Emergency Response Advisory Committee and as a Board Member for the Trauma Intervention Program of Northern Nevada. He was Adjunct Faculty at both Western Nevada College and Truckee Meadows Community College, developing curriculum and teaching courses in Criminal Justice.
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree, Summa Cum Laude in Social and Criminal Justice from Ashford University and also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. He is currently finishing his Master of Science, in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Louisville and is a graduate of the 141st Administrative Officer's Course at the Southern Police Institute.
Mike serves on the Curriculum Committee.
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