First African-American Indiana State Trooper assigned to Bloomington Post 33
From an early age, James Mitchell wanted to be a policeman and to enact positive change in his community. After graduating from the Indiana Police Academy in 1978, Mitchell accepted a position at Indiana State Police Post 33 in Bloomington. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mitchell moved to Indianapolis and attended Arlington High School, where he met his wife, Elizabeth. The couple has made Bloomington their home since 1979. Mitchell resigned from the Indiana State Police Department in 1985 and accepted a position with the Bloomington Police Department. He experienced opposition as a BPD Trooper similar to what Charles Brown faced as its first black policeman. Fellow officers ignored calls for backup, and racial slurs from the public were often directed his way. Mitchell retired in 2013 from the Bloomington Police Department after a distinguished career. He and his wife Elizabeth still live in Bloomington and spend their days traveling around the world.