Chief James P. Campbell

Chief James Campbell began his career in law enforcement as a full time dispatcher for the Seekonk Police Department. He also served as a reserve police officer in that same department. While attending Elmira College, he played NCAA hockey. Campbell later transferred to Roger Williams University where he was introduced to the Police Community Service Officer Program in Westerly. Shortly after, he began as a patrol officer and served twenty-two years in the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant and Lieutenant.  He served on the special response team for fifteen years and was an accident reconstruction specialist investigating twenty-five fatal accidents and providing court testimony in both civil and criminal courts. He provided instruction in active threat response including teaching at the RI Municipal Police Academy. He served as a mentor and field training officer (FTO) for fifteen-years and oversaw the department’s FTO program. Before retiring, he was assigned to administer the prosecution division with matters before the municipal court, traffic court and district court as well as serving as the liaison to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for matters in the superior court. He was appointed as Chief of Police in Jamestown in September 2023.