Officer Jimmie F. Chadwell

I was going through old business cards today and found Jim's card. In 1978, I was a Dallas PD Fugitive Squad Investigator and Jim was a member of the Ft Worth PD Fugitive Squad. Although we did the same job for neighboring departments, our meeting was quite random. I had met Jim while he was working overtime, in uniform, at the Ft Worth Convention Ctr. for the Merle Haggard concert that I was attending. During the intermission my date excused herself so I walked up front to speak to the officers. Jim was one of the officers and we exchanged business cards after learning we both were Fugitive Squad officers for our respective agencies. Following Merle's performance, Jim waved us down front where he allowed us backstage. Once backstage we were unexpectedly mistaken for winners of a local radio concert. Upon meeting Merle, he invited on his bus for a beer. Needless to say it was great. I called Jim a few days later to thank him. Jim had a good laugh about my unexpected "good luck", and we exchanged information on several active cases. A few months later the local news reported Jim's untimely death in the line of duty. Although I didn't know Jim very long, I knew him as a very likable guy and a dedicated officer. Jim used a chance encounter to form a fraternal friendship where information could be shared about dangerous fugitives. Jim's death was not in vain. Jim died doing what he was born to do. Forty five years have passed, but Jim is still fondly remembered by some of us old guys. Greg Evans

Gregory G. Evans
Sergeant - Retired
Dallas Police Department
Dallas, Texas
1972 -2008

March 21, 2023