James Abbott

About James Abbott

My law enforcement career started in July 1995 with the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department. I served until 1998 when I went to work with the Murfreesboro Police Department. From 1998 until 2006, I worked as a patrol officer, DARE, and COPS officer. In 2006, I was transferred to the criminal investigations division, working as a general detective, gang unit, and eventually the violent crimes unit. In 2018, I was promoted to Sergeant and served as the supervisor of the violent crimes unit. In April of 2022, I was promoted to Lieutenant, where I currently serve as the supervisor of the violent crimes and special victims\' unit. During my career, I have had the opportunity to gain valuable experience in several fields, including criminal investigative analysis and intelligence-led policing, gang identification and gang investigation, problem-oriented and community-oriented policing, working, controlling, and managing major cases, death and homicide investigations, crime scene investigations, bloodstain pattern analysis, and search and seizure procedures. I also had the opportunity to assist with developing and writing a violent crime grant, which resulted in federal funding to establish a gang unit for the Murfreesboro Police Department in 2010. I have also worked on multi-jurisdictional gang investigations, which have resulted in several federal prosecutions.From July 1988 to November 1991, I served in the United States Army, serving with the 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. During that time, I served in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, where my duties included light infantry squad member. From December 1991 to May 2008, I served with the Tennessee Army National Guard. My duties included tank commander, section leader, and squad leader. I retired in 2008 at the rank of staff sergeant, E6. I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2004 to December 2005, where my primary jobs included coordinating with and training the Iraqi police.

Experience

1. Full-time Lecturer with the Criminal Justice Administration Department

   Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)

   Aug 2025 — Present · Murfreesboro, TN, US

   Crime Scene InvestigationsCrime Scene Photography and DocumentationHomicide InvestigationsCriminal InvestigationsIntroduction to Criminal Justice Administration

Education

• Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)

  Master's degree, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

  2012 — 2014

• The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

  Doctor of Philosophy, Learning and Leadership

• Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)

  Bachelor's degree, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

  2000 — 2002