Rome, NY – Jeffrey Lanigan, Mayor-elect of Rome, has announced that the City of Rome will have a new Police Chief in January.  Rome Police Captain Kevin James, a native of Rome, NY, and a 1993 graduate of Rome Free Academy, will assume the role. James has an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Mohawk Valley Community College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Anthropology from West Virginia University.  James is married with one son.  He is one of two individuals eligible for the position based on successfully passing the Chief’s civil service exam.

James began his public safety career as a full-time police officer in the Village of Boonville in 2003. In 2004, he joined the City of Rome Police Department where he is currently serving as the Captain of Detectives. James has spent over 16 years as a member of the Special Response Team, where he served as an operator and a team leader during his final three years on the team. He has also worked on the Mountain Bike Unit and has served as a certified Field Training Officer.

James has always made it a priority to stay updated with the latest policing practices and has obtained several training certifications throughout his career.  He is a certified General Topics Instructor and Reality Based Training Instructor and has leveraged these certifications to teach various courses at the Mohawk Valley Police Academy. Some of the courses he has taught include Defensive Tactics, Emergency Vehicle Operators Course, Police Investigations, Dangerous Drugs and others.

In 2013, James was assigned to the training position in the Detective Division, where he remained for one year before being promoted to the rank of Detective in October 2014. He was then assigned to the Criminal Investigations Unit until 2015 when he was reassigned to the Special Investigations Unit.  James was appointed as the Detective Division Commander in February 2020 and was later promoted to the rank of Captain.   During his tenure with the department, James has also served as an executive board member in the Philip S. McDonald Police Benevolent Association and has held the positions of Vice President, Financial Secretary, and Shift Steward.

When asked about his appointment, James said, “I am excited to bring my 20+ years of police experience to my new role as Chief of Police. I welcome the challenges that I will face and aim to continue the progress that Chief Collins has made. I share Mayor-elect Lanigan’s view that police training should be a top priority for any police department. Investing in training is beneficial not only for the officers but also for the community they serve. It demonstrates the department’s commitment to providing officers with the necessary resources to handle the ever-changing challenges that come with policing today. Additionally, better-trained officers are better equipped to solve the issues facing the community. I am honored that Mayor-elect Lanigan has placed his trust in me to serve as the next Chief of Police for the Rome Police Department. I believe it is one of the finest police departments and I am eager to work with him to achieve his goals.  I am also honored and excited to be working with our new Public Safety Commissioner, Ken White, and want to congratulate him on his appointment.  Ken is an excellent choice and will be a huge asset to the City of Rome in his new role.”

Lanigan offered his congratulations to James, stating, “I believe that Captain James is the ideal leader to guide our department into the future. He has a wealth of experience with our specialized units, making him well-equipped to handle any challenges we may face in law enforcement. His dedication and commitment to the department and the community have earned him the utmost respect from his fellow officers, which is essential for his success.  Captain James is committed to personal growth and skills development, which means he will ensure that our officers have access to critical training and certifications. He will provide them with the necessary tools and resources to keep the people of Rome and our officers safe. With his leadership and experience, I am confident he will do an outstanding job for our community.”