Episode 189: Michael Harrigan – Crime in Indian Country, FBI National Academy

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Retired agent Michael Harrigan served in the FBI for 22 years. In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, Michael Harrigan reviews his assignment as the Supervisory Senior Resident Agent (SSRA) in the Farmington and Gallup offices of the Albuquerque Division where he conducted and supervised investigations of crime in Indian country involving homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, missing persons and unidentified human remains and was responsible for federal criminal matters on three Native American reservations. He also discusses his assignment as the Chief of the National Academy (NA) Program, the leading national law enforcement executive leadership institution, graduating over 1,800 senior law enforcement officers from every state and more than 40 countries.

Mike Harrigan previously reviewed the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP), the largest repository of serial violent crime cases in the country, and the Highway Serial Killings Initiative. He was the unit’s chief and oversaw the development of the web database which allows client law enforcement agencies direct access to conduct independent analysis. Before he retired, Harrigan was the Chief of the FBI Academy’s Firearms Training Program. Currently, he is a subject matter expert for Eagle, a security and risk management service, for whom he provides consultation and expert testimony related to violent crime analysis, the use of force continuum, police procedures and policies, and various issues related to policing Indian Country.

Special Agent (Retired)

Michael Harrigan

October 1996 – December 2018

“Thirty-six of our field offices have agents assigned to investigate crime in Indian Country, that’s the term that goes back many decades.” —Retired Agent Mike Harrigan

Crime in Indian Country

The following are articles on the FBI responsibilities in investigating crime in Indian country and the crisis of serious crimes of violence against Native American women:

FBI Website: What We Investigate -Indian Country Crime

FBI Statement Before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs – 12/12/2018: Missing and Murdered – Confronting the Silent Crisis in Indian Country

CBS News (VIDEO) – 6/12/2019: Congress tackles crisis of missing and murdered Native American women

Crime in Indian Country — This photo of Mike Harrigan has appeared in recruitment ads promoting the many unique assignments agents can have in the FBI, such as serving in Resident Agencies working crime in Indian Country.

In the background of this photo of Mike Harrigan is an ancient volcano core on the Navajo reservation just outside the city of Shiprock, New Mexico. It’s called “Shiprock” and is a sacred place to the Navajos.

FBI National Academy

FBI Website: Services – National Academy

The FBI National Academy Associates, Inc., is an organization of more than 16,000 law enforcement professionals who graduated from the National Academy and actively work to develop higher levels of competency, cooperation, and integrity across the law enforcement community.