James was born November 23, 1963. He attended Woodward High School and graduated. He also had an associate degree in Criminal Justice.
James joined the United States Army on October 19, 1982 and after his basic training went through Combat Engineer School. He served with the 29th Engineer Battalion. Specialist 4 received an honorable discharge on October 18, 1985.
During January 1986, he began working for C.P.P. Security as a Security Officer. During March 1987 he began as a personnel clerk at the Internal Revenue Service. He went back to security in February 1990 with the Pinkerton Agency.
During December 1991, Jim joined the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections Officer.
He joined the Cincinnati Police Division on June 7, 1992 as a Police Recruit. He was promoted to Police Officer on October 25, 1992, issued Badge 209, and assigned to District 4 (Reading Road). A year later, he was rotated to District 3 (Warsaw Avenue). He and seventeen other officers were promoted to Sergeant on September 25, 1997. He was issued Badge S-125 and assigned to District 2 (Erie Avenue). Sergeant Waites also served in District 5 (Ludlow Avenue), District 4, and District 1 (Ezzard Charles Drive). He retired October 1, 2021 with 33 years of service to his country, county, and community and 6 letters of appreciation and/or commendation.
Sergeant Waites was found dead on Easter Sunday 2022.
A wake will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Olivet Baptist Church at 6838 Montgomery Road.
© 2022 – All rights reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum