Officer dead of natural causes
Thursday, July 25, 2002


Lifetime McCook resident and long-time police officer James McConville, 45, was found dead of natural causes in his home Wednesday morning.
He was a 221/2-year veteran of the McCook Police Department. "Twenty-two and a half years ago Jim McConville made a choice to put the needs of others ahead of his. Throughout more than half of his life he has done that," Police Chief Ike Brown said this morning.

"Working weekends and holidays throughout the year puts quite a strain on your personal life, but despite that, Jim remained true to his commitment," Brown continued.

The long-time police officer touched the lives of many people in fulfilling his duties. "He will be missed by his family, his friends, members of the McCook Police Department as well as law enforcement officials throughout Southwest Nebraska."

McConville told the Gazette in a report earlier this year he joined the force "to serve the community he was born and raised in with the hopes of making a positive difference." In the last days of his life, McConville was feeling good about life and his job, Brown told the Gazette.

Officer McConville demonstrated his commitment to the young people of McCook through the development of the McGruff the Crime Dog program.

He was named 1987 McCook Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and was a certified law enforcement supervisor. In addition to his duties as officer and McGruff coordinator, he served on the McCook Ambulance Squad as an Emergency Medical Technician and worked with the Neighborhood Watch Program. McConville was born Sept. 21, 1956 and graduated from McCook High School in 1975.

He is survived by three sons, Brad, Scott and Daniel; his mother Patricia; and special friend Tamie Crabtree, all of McCook.