Cherie Baker was the Deputy Chief of Police of Bellevue, Washington. She was a member of the police department from 1978-2013. Her position in leadership was to lead a department of 224 employees. She begun her career as a patrol officer and moved up to become a Police Lieutenant, then a police Captain, a Police Major, and eventually a Deputy Chief of Police. She has been a hostage negotiator for 20 years. She also received the Commanders Award for Excellence. Cherie joined a male dominated profession and was one of the earlier female leaders to rise through the organization and reach the top. Her insights and experience is a journey in leadership and how to do it with grace and eloquence in a para-military world of law enforcement.
