“During freshman orientation, Dean (Quiester) Craig said that the education you get at A&T is as good as or better than an education anywhere else. I was given a world-class foundation to succeed in any profession I chose,” James said.

A Greensboro native, James made the decision to come to N.C. A&T after hearing stories from a family member who graduated from the university.

“Hearing his stories, I knew I wanted to go. I went and never looked back,” he said.

While moving into law enforcement from a business background may seem to be a bit of a stretch, his education has always worked in his favor. In fact, around the time James fulfilled all the requirements of his bachelor’s degree is precisely the time when GPD started to actively recruit college graduates.

“The job became technical and that required a higher degree of education,” James said.

He started working as a patrolman in 1996 in southeast Greensboro. Growing up in the city really made James feel connected to the work he was doing.

“It made it personal to me to do something to help this community – my community – be better,” he said.

After just two years as a patrolman, James made his first move of several into various posts and leadership roles within the department across the city including Community Resource, traffic enforcement, the chief’s office, and resource management.

While many local law enforcement officers leave their municipalities for state and federal posts that pay more, James says he has never thought about applying for a job with another agency.

“I love Greensboro. It’s where I grew up, where I wanted to make home and raise my kids. You can’t exactly make that decision in a federal agency,” he said. “Money is important but it’s not the most important thing. I wanted to be a law enforcement officer in Greensboro and make a difference in this community.”

In April, James was promoted to deputy chief in charge of the Support Bureau that includes crime scene investigators and forensics specialists as well as educational and outreach services.

It is the education he received at A&T and Pfieffer University, where he earned his MBA, and various training such as the FBI National Academy, that put him in the position to take on this role.

“I’ve always tried to do things on my own to better myself. If I can do the job to the best of my ability, I am going to be afforded another opportunity,” James said. “I just want to do the best that I can do. I’ve stuck to that philosophy the whole way and I feel honored to be in the position I’m in right now.”

In February, James will mark his 20th year with the police department. He is currently the chairman of the board for Malachi House, a member of the boards for the Children’s Museum and Communities in Schools of Greater Greensboro as well as a cabinet member for the African American Leadership Initiative, a United Way agency. He is the father of three daughters ages 11, 14 and 22. The oldest is a senior, architectural engineering major at A&T.

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