James Preston

James Preston

James Preston graduated from the Houston Community College Police Academy in 2000. He graduated top of his class at the police academy, and received the academy’s “TOP COP” and “Outstanding Achievement” awards.
James began his career as a Telecommunications Officer working for the Village Police Department in 1996. While serving at the Village Police Department he was responsible for taking and dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls for service, monitoring of prisoners, and entering and clearing warrants. James received awards for outstanding work effort and attendance records, and was also nominated for the Telecommunicator of the Year award for his actions that saved the life of another.
James left the Village Police Department in 2001 after completing the police academy to further his law enforcement career at the Harris County Constable Precinct 5 as a Peace Officer.
He was first assigned to the Patrol Division, which provides high visibility patrol and rapid response to emergency and non-emergency calls. James also worked in the Toll Road Division where his duties consisted of traffic enforcement and crash investigation. James later transferred to the Tactical Division, where his duties consisted of field training, response to special threats, targeted patrol operations, and other special assignments. James has also been an active member in his departments Honor Guard.
In 2007 James was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned as a Sergeant in the Patrol Division. In 2012 James transferred to the Training Division where he was responsible for developing and teaching firearms and in-service training. James instructs law enforcement courses ranging from basic to advanced firearms, live fire CQB, less lethal munitions / impact weapons / chemical munitions / distraction devices, vehicle assaults, patrol tactics, emergency vehicle operations, use of force, active shooter response, breaching, low light tactics. He also teaches Use of Force, Field Training Officer, Basic Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Tire Deflation Device, RADAR/LIDAR, Mechanics of Arrest courses, DeEscalation, Communication, Report Writing, legal updates, deaf and HOH, and Supervision/Leadership.
In 2021 James was promoted to rank of Lieutenant over the training, recruiting, field training, and internal affairs divisions.
James is also the Owner and Director of Training of Preston Tactical; a firearms and tactics training company based in Houston, Texas. He is responsible for developing and instructing various training programs for law enforcement, military, and qualified civilians.
James is an Adjunct Instructor for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program at Texas State University and helps instruct active shooter response training. He has also taught classes for CLEAT (Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas), TMPA (Texas Municipal Police Association), and the Texas Narcotics Officers Association (TNOA).
James has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston Downtown. He currently holds a master peace officer license and is a qualified TCOLE advanced instructor, firearms instructor, S.F.S.T. certified, field training officer, advanced SWAT certified, EVOC instructor and has also been trained as an emergency medical technician (EMT-B). James has completed the Texas Police Chief's Association - Developing Leaders for Texas Law Enforcement course. He has received several awards and letters of commendation for his actions in the line of duty.