Son of Aurora Ralston and Thomas Powell. He married Dorothy Forsht on 4 Jun 1938, and they had three known sons.
He arrived in Washington, D.C. about 1934, working at various jobs before joining the Metropolitain Police Department (MPDC) in 1940. He had several assignments over the next few years, receiving commendations and promotions as he progressed.
About 1958, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the U.S. Capitol as supervisor of the Plainclothes Detail (some MPDC Officers were detailed to the U.S. Capitol Police following the 1954 shooting in the U.S. House of Represntatives). In 1965, he became an Inspector and the designated Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (under the direction of the MPDC during the period when D.C. was still under direct control of the U.S. Congress).
On 20 Dec 1979, Congress enacted Public Law 96–152, which established the Capitol Police as its own independent legislative branch agency in charge of the safety and security of the Capitol complex. James M. Powell was appointed to be the first Chief.
Chief Powell served with distinction until his retirement from the U.S. Capitol Police on September 30, 1984.
NOTE: A remembrance was read into the U.S. Congressional Record by Hon. Robert W. Ney on July 28, 2005, Honoring James M. Powell, the First Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (can be found online).
He arrived in Washington, D.C. about 1934, working at various jobs before joining the Metropolitain Police Department (MPDC) in 1940. He had several assignments over the next few years, receiving commendations and promotions as he progressed.
About 1958, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the U.S. Capitol as supervisor of the Plainclothes Detail (some MPDC Officers were detailed to the U.S. Capitol Police following the 1954 shooting in the U.S. House of Represntatives). In 1965, he became an Inspector and the designated Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (under the direction of the MPDC during the period when D.C. was still under direct control of the U.S. Congress).
On 20 Dec 1979, Congress enacted Public Law 96–152, which established the Capitol Police as its own independent legislative branch agency in charge of the safety and security of the Capitol complex. James M. Powell was appointed to be the first Chief.
Chief Powell served with distinction until his retirement from the U.S. Capitol Police on September 30, 1984.
NOTE: A remembrance was read into the U.S. Congressional Record by Hon. Robert W. Ney on July 28, 2005, Honoring James M. Powell, the First Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (can be found online).
Son of Aurora Ralston and Thomas Powell. He married Dorothy Forsht on 4 Jun 1938, and they had three known sons.
He arrived in Washington, D.C. about 1934, working at various jobs before joining the Metropolitain Police Department (MPDC) in 1940. He had several assignments over the next few years, receiving commendations and promotions as he progressed.
About 1958, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the U.S. Capitol as supervisor of the Plainclothes Detail (some MPDC Officers were detailed to the U.S. Capitol Police following the 1954 shooting in the U.S. House of Represntatives). In 1965, he became an Inspector and the designated Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (under the direction of the MPDC during the period when D.C. was still under direct control of the U.S. Congress).
On 20 Dec 1979, Congress enacted Public Law 96–152, which established the Capitol Police as its own independent legislative branch agency in charge of the safety and security of the Capitol complex. James M. Powell was appointed to be the first Chief.
Chief Powell served with distinction until his retirement from the U.S. Capitol Police on September 30, 1984.
NOTE: A remembrance was read into the U.S. Congressional Record by Hon. Robert W. Ney on July 28, 2005, Honoring James M. Powell, the First Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (can be found online).
He arrived in Washington, D.C. about 1934, working at various jobs before joining the Metropolitain Police Department (MPDC) in 1940. He had several assignments over the next few years, receiving commendations and promotions as he progressed.
About 1958, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the U.S. Capitol as supervisor of the Plainclothes Detail (some MPDC Officers were detailed to the U.S. Capitol Police following the 1954 shooting in the U.S. House of Represntatives). In 1965, he became an Inspector and the designated Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (under the direction of the MPDC during the period when D.C. was still under direct control of the U.S. Congress).
On 20 Dec 1979, Congress enacted Public Law 96–152, which established the Capitol Police as its own independent legislative branch agency in charge of the safety and security of the Capitol complex. James M. Powell was appointed to be the first Chief.
Chief Powell served with distinction until his retirement from the U.S. Capitol Police on September 30, 1984.
NOTE: A remembrance was read into the U.S. Congressional Record by Hon. Robert W. Ney on July 28, 2005, Honoring James M. Powell, the First Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (can be found online).
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