James B. Golden, Jr. has worked in law enforcement for more than 40 years, and was appointed Trenton, New Jersey’s first civilian Police Director in 2000. He began his career with the Philadelphia, PA Police Department where he held the ranks of police officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain, and served as the department’s Executive Officer from 1992 until his retirement in 1996. In Trenton, he set a new strategic direction for community-based policing, working in a true partnership with citizens to reduce the fear and incidence of crime. Collaborating with the community and rank and file officers, he re-engineered the department in a way that enabled police officers and citizens to identify and solve problems at the neighborhood level. This strategy led to a reduction in serious crime in several troubled neighborhoods in the city. Prior to Trenton, he served as the first African American chief of police for the City of Saginaw, Michigan.

In July 2022, US Department of Justice (COPS Office) appointed Mr. Golden to serve on the Critical Incident Review (CIR) team of subject matter experts to conduct a review of the May 24, 2022 mass shooting attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses; identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events; and provide a roadmap for community safety and engagement before, during, and after such incidents. The observations, lessons learned, and recommendations contained in the report are based on national standards and best and emerging practices in the field of policing, current research, community expectations, and innovative solutions tailored to the critical incident review.