Kevin James Endowment
WHY AN ENDOWMENT:
The Kevin James Endowment Fund was set up in November 2007 by the Dallas Police Association's Assist the Officer Foundation board of directors to honor the memory of Dallas Police Officer Christopher Kevin James, who was murdered on November 25, 2001. Kevin is the only sitting Dallas Police Association (www.dallaspa.org) board member to be killed in the line of duty.
WHAT IS AN ENDOWMENT FUND:
An endowment fund is a long-term investment account designed to provide ongoing support for a charitable purpose. The fund is invested to generate income and growth, and each year, a portion of the earnings is distributed while the principal remains intact.
The impact of this fund is twofold: your gift continues giving year after year, since only the interest is used, and your contribution directly supports local law enforcement officers in need.
HOW THE FUND WORKS:
The Endowment Fund is created and exists solely for the charitable purposes of the DPA's Assist the Officer Foundation, with its principle objective being the promotion and development of assistance to police officers as expressed in the by-laws and the guidelines of the Foundation (www.atodallas.org).
Once each year, the Endowment Fund Committee will authorize a payment of the previous year's interest to the ATO Foundation - leaving the principle untouched. This distribution will be calculated as interest earned beyond the invested principle. In short, your contribution to the Endowment will never be spent, only the interest it makes over the year. In this way, we continue to honor Kevin and ensure ongoing support for the Foundation in perpetuity.
Endowment Fund
as of 2025
"Lest We Forget"
Christopher Kevin James, "KJ," was hired by the Dallas Police Department in March of 1995. He completed basic training and was assigned to the Northwest Patrol Division, where he worked his entire career. Almost immediately, KJ began receiving praise from both citizens and fellow officers. He received over 50 commendations, nearly half of which came from the very citizens he was sworn to protect. Clearly, he was exceptional at his job.
Kevin was taken from his family, friends, and co-workers while doing exactly what he was trained to do—protect others. He had agreed to work an extra job for another officer who was unable to do so, knowing that he could count on KJ.
On November 25, 2001, at about 2:45 a.m., Officer James and Senior Corporal Clarence Lockett were working an off-duty assignment with other officers at "Club DMX" (10733 Spangler Road). James and Lockett broke up a fight in the parking lot when one of the individuals involved pulled out a gun and began firing. One of the rounds struck James, knocking him to the ground. The suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Licho Escamilla, continued shooting at Officer James as he walked past him. Escamilla also shot Senior Corporal Lockett in the wrist during the ordeal.
Sergeant Mark King and Senior Corporal Lance Crawford were nearby and exchanged gunfire with Escamilla as he fled south from the scene. The suspect was prevented from abducting a female and stealing her truck. He began firing at officers again until he was struck by gunfire in the chin and hip. Sergeant King and Senior Corporal Crawford did not realize Officer James had been fatally wounded until they returned to the club after placing Escamilla in an ambulance down the street.
Services for Officer James were held at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, and he was laid to rest at Restland Memorial Park. He is survived by his wife, Lori; his daughter, Shelby; his parents, Kay and Chris; and his sister, Mika. It was later revealed that a murder warrant had been issued for Escamilla six days earlier in connection with the shooting death of Michael Torres. Escamilla was found guilty of capital murder and executed in 2015.