Prepared By: Capt. Dyon Harper
Raytown, MO – After 43 years of service with the Raytown Police Department, Raytown Chief of Police James B. Lynch announced that he will retire on February 14, 2019. Chief Lynch is grateful for the unwavering support of the residents and businesses of Raytown. “I would like to thank the Raytown community for their continued support through the years, of not just me, but the men and women of the Raytown Police Department,” Chief Lynch said. “I have lived in Raytown for decades and have raised my children here. I am grateful to be part of the Raytown community and to the people of Raytown, I say thank you for allowing me to serve you.”
Though leaving a law enforcement career can be difficult, especially after so many years, Chief Lynch is grateful. “Law enforcement is one of the most rewarding careers,” Chief Lynch said, “and I am glad to have been able to be a part of it. I am thankful for the personal and professional relationships that were made along the way. I am honored to have served with the finest men and women in law enforcement and wish them well in upholding that professional service.”
Chief Lynch started his career with the Raytown, Missouri Police Department in 1975 as a Patrol Officer. Chief Lynch was selected for the Traffic Unit in 1978. In 1983 he was promoted to the rank of Detective, where he was assigned a variety of cases and served as a member of the Metro Squad, investigating major cases in the Kansas City Metro area. During that time period, Chief Lynch completed his Bachelors’ Degree at Avila University, earning a degree in Criminal Justice. Chief Lynch, in 1988, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and 1991, he was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant. While in that assignment, he was the Lead Officer in several Metro Squad homicide investigations, supervising Detectives from several agencies.
In August 1996, he left full-time employment with the Police Department, going to work for General Accident Insurance Company as a Special Investigator. During his employment with General Accident Insurance, from August 1996 until April 2001, Chief Lynch maintained his relationship with the Raytown Police Department, as a Reserve Sergeant. Chief Jim Lynch was elected to his current position in April 2001. He has served as Chief of Police since then.
By April of 2002, Chief Lynch accomplished one of his goals, by having the members of the Police Department trained through the Community Oriented Policing Institute, in community policing practices. He also collaborated with the Department of Justice, the Kansas City Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., members of the Raytown Human Relations Committee, and Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, to build a lasting relationship between Raytown’s diverse community and the Police Department.
Chief Lynch has been involved in many community groups in the Metro Kansas City Area, including Raytown Emergency Assistance Program, (R.E.A.P.), Hope House, Shepherd’s Center and the Kansas City Crime Commission.
Chief Lynch has been honored with receiving many awards throughout his career. Among these, are the Raytown Police Department’s, Award for Officer of the Year, the 2009 Diversity Advocate in Law Enforcement from the Olathe Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., and the 2011 Clarence Kelley Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice Administration.
