Sgt. James Hutchcraft
Irvine Sergeant Named Tactical Officer of the Year
Irvine, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2016) – Irvine Police Department (IPD) Sgt. James Hutchcraft has been named the 2016 California Association of Tactical Officers (CATO) Tactical Officer of the Year. CATO selects just one SWAT officer from across the state each year for this prestigious honor. Sgt. Hutchcraft was recognized for his ongoing support and commitment to his team.
Sgt. Hutchcraft is an 18-year law enforcement veteran who has spent the majority of his career with IPD. He is a founding member of Orange County’s Joint Hazardous Assessment Team and is considered one of the most highly trained and experienced operators in the county.
Sgt. Hutchcraft has worked a variety of assignments as part of the SWAT team, as both an operator and a team leader. He has worked patrol as both an officer and a supervisor. He has been part of the Field Training Officer program and has served in the Specialized Investigations Unit.
He is the recipient of four Unit Commendations, a Lifesaving Award, a Meritorious Service Award and a Certificate of Commendation from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for excellence in investigations.
Sgt. Hutchcraft has also dedicated his time and effort to the Department’s Community Police Academy, the Special Olympics Tip-A-Cop events and Shop-With-A-Cop program, which provides holiday gifts to displaced families.
He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, deploying twice and serving four years as a Marine sniper; he is an officer candidate in the California Army National Guard.
This honor is the second high-profile award to be earned by a member of the Irvine Police Department in recent weeks, coming on the heels of IPD Lt. Michael Kent being named to the International Association of Chiefs of Police “40 under 40” list.