James S. Wynecoop devoted more than forty years to public safety, leadership, and community service. His career began in 1975 when, at nineteen, he became one of the youngest Tribal Police Officers on the Spokane Reservation. From those early patrols, he developed a steady commitment to integrity, responsibility, and service grounded in cultural heritage.
His experience later expanded to Alaska’s North Slope, where he worked as a Security Officer, Firefighter, and EMT in one of the most remote regions in the country. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Wynecoop founded Argus Security, growing the company to more than 500 officers before its acquisition in 1989. He then returned to law enforcement, serving as Police Captain in La Push, Washington, and later with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
In 1999, he joined the Kalispel Tribe, ultimately serving as Executive Director of Public Safety. Through his writing, Wynecoop reflects on leadership, faith, and the lasting responsibility of service.