James
TOWN OF GARDINER – A crash between a motorcycle and a motor vehicle Tuesday morning claimed the life of the motorcycle operator, a police officer in Orange County.
Officer Dustin James, 31, was off-duty when the accident occurred at 11 a.m., the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office reported. It happened at the intersection of Bruynswick Road and Route 44/55 in the Town of Gardiner. The two vehicles collided at the intersection, deputies said. The driver of the car was identified was Alejandra Rodas-Perez, 19, of Bloomingburg.
James was a full-time officer in the Walden Village Police Department and a part-time officer in the Village of Montgomery Department. He joined Montgomery in December 2015. He began his career with Walden PD on January 1, 2007 as a part-time dispatcher. On August 17 of that year he was hired as a part-time police officer and on October 13, 2009, he was appointed as a full-time patrolman.
James is survived by his wife, Maryellen James.
“Officer James was an exceptional police officer who excelled at his job. His many contributions to both departments are too numerous to list,” said Walden Sgt. Eric Metzger. “He had compassion for others, a sense of humor and an attention to detail. Officer James was loved by all who had the pleasure to know him and work with him over the years. There was nothing that Officer James would not do for his fellow brothers or sisters.”
James was posthumously promoted to the rank of investigator in the Walden Police Department.
