Overview:
“Completing the FBI National Academy was a transformative experience that will help me better serve our community,” said Chief Sanya Mae Olkeriil, head of the Division of Juvenile Justice, after becoming the first Palauan woman to graduate from the FBI National Academy, the Bureau of Public Safety announced this week.
By: Summer Kennard
KOROR, Palau — “Completing the FBI National Academy was a transformative experience that will help me better serve our community,” said Chief Sanya Mae Olkeriil, head of the Division of Juvenile Justice, after becoming the first Palauan woman to graduate from the FBI National Academy, the Bureau of Public Safety announced this week.
Olkeriil completed the academy’s 295th session in Quantico, Virginia, a program recognized worldwide for advancing law enforcement leadership. She described the training as professionally enriching, combining rigorous academic coursework, physical training, and leadership development, while providing insight into contemporary law enforcement strategies, ethical leadership, and global criminal trends.
“The FBI National Academy provided advanced leadership training and research-based approaches to law enforcement,” Olkeriil said. “The innovative policing strategies and best practices I gained will help improve community trust, officer wellness, and operational effectiveness. One important highlight was the international network of law enforcement; I now have access to a valuable resource for collaboration and idea-sharing across the globe.”
Bureau of Public Safety Director Curtis T. Elobt called Olkeriil’s achievement a historic milestone. “Her success is a powerful reminder that women are equally capable of serving, leading and excelling at the highest levels of law enforcement,” he said. “It is a milestone not only for our department but for women in policing across Palau and the Pacific.”
Olkeriil has served with the Bureau of Public Safety for five years, leading community-based programs to support youth in her role as Chief of Juvenile Justice. Born and raised in Palau, she credits her parents, Carson Olkeriil and Lucy Sugiyama-Olkeriil, for guiding her into public service. She also acknowledged the support of her partner, Vierra Toribiong, and said her son, Zayden Etibek Rekemsik, is her greatest source of inspiration.
The Bureau of Public Safety hailed her graduation as both a national honor and a regional milestone for women in law enforcement.