Vintage

Central Division Officer of the Month

   Officer James Shivers

 An eighteen year Central Patrol veteran, Officer James Shivers, #6598, is this month's Central Patrol Officer of the Month.  As a member of the Central Division's Deployment (undercover) unit, his picture cannot be posted.

Officer Shivers was one of eight officers selected twelve years ago to form the new Central Deployment unit.  The Deployment unit is the Central Division's unit responsible for covert (undercover) operations, and Officer Shivers has helped to form the unit into what it is today, and has developed techniques used by the unit to combat crime.

An example of this is illustrated by an operation Officer Shivers' actions on May 11, 1997.  Officers Shivers responded to an Aggravated Robbery call where five suspects took a victim's cell phone, and other property, at gunpoint.  Officer Shivers called the victim's cell phone, posing as a friend of the victim, and convinced the suspects to meet him at a 7-11.  When the suspects arrived, they were arrested.

Two of Officer's Shivers' earliest experiences as a member of the Deployment Unit was in 1996, the unit's founding year.  In the same evening, Officer Shivers observed an armed robbery of an individual by multiple suspects.  The arrest of the suspects occurred without injury to either the victim, the suspects, or to officers, and resulted in four aggravated robbery offenses being cleared.  Later that night, Officer Shivers observed a suspect walking through a vacant field.  The suspect was interviewed, and the investigation determined that the suspect was involved in a sexual assault offense.  The suspect was also in possession of dangerous drugs.

Officer Shivers often works with other law enforcement agencies as a member of the Dallas Police Department.  In 1999, Officer Shivers, working with Rockwall Police, learned that a store in Dallas was fencing stolen CDs.   With the cooperation of a local retailer, Officer Shivers borrowed sixty CDs and took them to the store that was involved in the fencing operation.  Telling the manager the CDs had been taken in a burglary and that he wanted to sell them, the store manager purchased the CDs.  Two felony arrests were made as a result of this operation.

Officer Shivers is looked upon by his fellow officers as both an example and a mentor.  He frequently assists other officers and detectives in investigations, in authoring warrants, and with using technology in the fight against crime.   Officer Shivers is proficient in the use of public internet sites, and able to identify and investigate offenses and suspects on those sites.

A recipient of 93 commendations, 7 of which are from outside the department, and earning three marksmanship awards, Officer Shivers is driven to excellence.   A tireless, careful worker, Officer Shivers has received a 5 year sick time award as well as a 15 year safe driving award.

For his long history of excellence and leadership, Officer Shivers is bestowed the honor of Officer of the Month.