Lt. Kathleen Harasek
Commander
U.S. Park Police, Aviation Division

Lt. Kathleen Harasek is a 21 year veteran of the U.S. Park Police, the oldest uniformed Federal Law Enforcement Agency in the United States. Lieutenant Harasek has served as a uniformed patrol officer with assignments in the Anacostia Station, George Washington Memorial Parkway Station and the Crime and Violence Task Force in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

In 1994 Kathleen was selected as a Rescue Technician Trainee within the U.S. Park Police Aviation Unit and completed a 14 month training program with the Montgomery County, MD department of Fire and Rescue Services leading to certification as a National Registry EMT-Paramedic. As a Rescue Technician, Kathleen has received numerous departmental awards for life-saving, outstanding police duty and meritorious service for actions in law enforcement, medical and search and rescue incidents.

After promotion to Sergeant in 1996, Kathleen was named the Chief Paramedic within the Aviation Unit, responsible for the supervision of all Unit Rescue Technicians, oversight of the Unit’s medevac program and daily mission operations. She was also responsible for the selection and training of new Rescue Technicians within the Unit.

Promoted to Lieutenant in 2005, Kathleen moved from the Aviation Unit to an operational assignment as Shift Commander, overseeing all patrol operations and functions in the Washington metropolitan area during a shift. Eight months later Lieutenant Harasek returned to the Aviation Unit as the 11th Commander and first female Commander in its 33 year history.

Currently, Lieutenant Harasek supervises a 24 hour law enforcement, medevac and search and rescue operation based out of the “Eagle’s Nest” in SE Washington, DC. The Unit has 7 Pilots, 8 Rescue Technicians and 3 helicopters all of which result in the oversight and responsibility for assets and expenditures of millions of dollars annually.

Lieutenant Harasek serves on numerous committees tasked with flight safety within the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service, both parent organizations of the U.S. Park Police and serves on interagency committees tasked with flight safety and security within the National Capital Region. Lieutenant Harasek was instrumental in the NCR Pilot Safety Briefings which take place with pilots from helicopter agencies with flight responsibilities in the SFRA prior to any NSSE or other high profile events. These briefings have been instrumental in coordinating flight response and increasing safety and awareness during high profile events.

Lieutenant Harasek received a BS in Education from the University of Massachusetts, an MEd in Human Development from the University of Maryland. She is a recent graduate of the FBI National Academy – Session 233. Lieutenant Harasek also earned her private and commercial helicopter ratings.

In her spare time Lieutenant Harasek enjoys golfing and traveling with her husband and is a volunteer Paramedic and Operational Captain with the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad in Sterling, VA.

Speaker: Crew Rest