Mr. James leaves behind happy children to become police officer

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  James McFadden spent the past two years working as a counselor with the School Age Program at Vance. Last Wednesday he headed out the front gate to become an officer with the Enid Police Department. 

He leaves behind a group of kindergarten through sixth-grade students who call him Mr. James, because that's how the SAP director, Kim Winfield, teaches the children respect for adults. "It didn't seem right to call him Mr. McFadden. He was too much like a big kid with the children. But we couldn't have them calling him James." 

Mr. James joined the SAP staff after a tour of duty with the Marine Corps. "The kids really took to him," said Ms. Winfield. "He would look at potential activities from the point of view that if he liked it, the kids would probably like it. And he was usually right," she said. 

His Marine discipline played an important factor in Ms. Winfield hiring Mr. James. "He knew how things working on a military base, and understood the importance of documentation and following the rules," she said. "And he didn't mind a mess. The outdoor activities he thought up usually involved dirt or water." 

Mr. James, in his mid-twenties, worked a second job in the mornings and spent weekday afternoons with the school-age kids. "Two years is a long time for someone to stay with us," said Ms. Winfield. "I knew he was interested in joining the Enid Police Department. I grew up with his father, who is a retired Enid officer. His brother, Robert is currently an Enid police officer." 

When Mr. James was accepted for the local police force, it seemed like a good idea for his brother Robert to come visit the SAP last week, complete with patrol car. After the children had a chance to explore the vehicle, they were treated to a hand-cuffing demonstration, with Mr. James in the hand cuffs. 

"Once he was restrained, Mr. James was the object of a lot of hugs from the children," said Ms. Winfield. "They literally stampeded him with affection," she said. 

The SAP children and staff gave Mr. James special presents last Wednesday before he headed out the front gate -- a collection of stuffed animals to put in the truck of his first police car. Known as comfort critters, the stuffed animals are used by Enid police officers to comfort a child during tough times. 

Mr. James was popular with the children because he had fun with them. "He is funny," said Sam Keith, son of Stormie Keith, a CSC T-1 maintainer. "He plays games with us."
Sam's sister, Heather, liked it when Mr. James played zombie. But her favorite memory - "I dumped a bucket full of water on his head," she said, with a very happy laugh. 

"He drew monkeys for me," said Layne Sparkman, son of Victoria Broder, a SAP counselor. "He played games with us in the gym," said Layne. 

"One day he wore a hula skirt and danced for us," said Alexander Papworth, son of Maj. Sean Papworth. Alexander remembers with great excitement the day they got to throw pies in Mr. James' face. According to Ms. Winfield, Mr. James agreed to let the five children who earned the most Fit Factor points throw the pies. "He really seemed to like the taste of those pies," said Alexander. 

Nicholas Trembly, son of Staff Sgt. Danielle Ring, liked Mr. James for a reason only a guy would understand. "He would yell with us." And Nicholas expressed a feeling shared by many of the children. "I would have liked him to stay instead of becoming a police officer."