Myra G. James
Served 1988 – 2018
Myra James joined the Hamilton Wentworth Police Service in 1988. During thirty years of service to the City of Hamilton she experienced a wide range of assignments and responsibilities. She was first placed in uniformed patrol. In 1991 Myra noticed a car wanted in connection with a murder in Burlington, when she was on patrol near Limeridge Mall. She attempted to stop the driver, Jonathan Yeo, who instead killed himself while still driving the car. She later testified at the Yeo Inquest that lasted for six months, in 1992.
She was then assigned to the Traffic Division driving a motorcycle. She also received training as a Breathalizer Technician, Intoxilizer and other ‘traffic specific’ issues. Then she was assigned as a Vice and Drugs investigator and then she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1999.
She then worked as a Patrol Sergeant and Crowd Management Unit Member. She also worked as the Crime stoppers Coordinator, then as a Sex Crimes Unit Detective and as a Detective in Division Three. In total she spent more than 15 years working in different Investigative Units, culminating in the Sexual Assault Crime Unit.
Front Row L-R: Jamie Bannon, Lorna Hunt, Terri-Lyn Collings, Andrea McGlouchlin
Back Row L-R: Jessie Stoneman, Erin Munroe, Lynda Bowen, Wendy Vallessi, Anna Pallezzari, Myra James,
Myra and some other Ontario policewomen made a decision in 1997 that the work of policewomen in Ontario should be honoured and supported. They formed the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement (OWLE) and Myra is a Charter Executive Member. This organization provides training and support for policewomen on an annual basis. She has been, of course, an advocate for equitable treatment of women in Law Enforcement throughout her career.
Left to Right: Erin Csoke, Myra James, Jamie Bannon, Wendy Vallessi, Anna Pellizzari, Andrea McGlouchlin (Moss), Lynda Bowen, Alison Hood
In 2005 she received the “Mentoring” award from both the OWLE and the International Association of Women Police (IAWP). She was also honoured that year by the Hamilton Status of Women Committee who named her “Hamilton Woman of the Year”. She has been a member of the Stoney Creek Rotary Club for about 30 years. She was part of the Hamilton Status of Women Committee. Myra was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, which recognized her contribution to women in policing both provincially and nationally.
With the Hamilton Police she worked with committees which dealt with School Bus Safety, Traffic Management, the Ontario Special Olympics Management, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, the Hamilton Police -Maternity/Parental Leave Committee and the Hamilton Police – Women’s Issues Committee.
For more than eighteen years Myra served on the Board for the IAWP, where she was able to continue to mentor women in Law enforcement, participate in constitutional changes and interact with officers globally who have an interest in affiliating with IAWP and to assist in marketing the organization. She was the Editor of the IAWP Magazine “Women Police” for four years.
Myra received a great deal of training over the years, especially at the Ontario Police College. In 2015 she was “seconded” to that College to be an Instructor for Police Vehicle Operations. After her retirement in 2018 she took a contract to continue teaching there.
In 2010 Myra served as the volunteer Assistant Transportation Venue Manager for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. This was obviously a wonderful experience for her.
From 2012 to 2016 Myra was Chairperson of the Women in Law BUILD partnership,
working with Habitat for Humanity to actually build new homes for those in need.
She continued with them as a Board Member.
Back: Scott Hamilton, Cadet Jaclyn Stone, John Telapakis, Dave Dunlop, Wendy Filice, Kim Walker
Front: Carolyn Rashford, Myra James, Sara Beck, Kim Milne
2018 Retirement from Sex Crimes Unit
Myra has lived for more than 40 years in Hamilton and is now enjoying her retirement with her husband Richard. They share a love of travel and motorcycles. She is also interested in wrestling, sky diving, woodworking and ice hockey.
Myra retired finally in 2018
after a very fulfilling career.
By Dave Bowen, Retired Inspector, Hamilton Police Service