Bolling has two important roles

When Purcell Assistant Chief of Police James Bolling isn’t being Purcell’s next to top cop he’s not propping up his feet and hanging onto a cane pole trying to land a big bass.

Bolling has recently been promoted in the United States Air Force to E-9/CMSgt.

With his promotion, Chief Bolling has been selected as the Command Chief, 446th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, WA.

He will advise the wing commander and staff on matters of health, morale, welfare, training, professional development and utilization of over 1,350 enlisted personnel and 500 officers.

The command chief serves as the commander’s representative on councils, boards and military and local civilian community events.

Once a month he will be on site at the base for 4-5 days and then do tele-work.

“The most challenging thing is balancing the assistant chief job, which is a very important role day to day at the police department and being a senior leader in military,” Bolling admitted.

“And balancing that position when I’m not always at my location to work with challenges and issues. Not being face to face is hard. I like to be hands-on on the ground so it can be challenging at times to work though those issues,” he confirmed.

Only one percent of military members make the E-9/CMSgt rank in the Air Force and less than half of those will ever be selected as a command chief.

Bolling will function as the liaison and spokesperson between the enlisted force and the commander.

The 446th Airlift Wing flies and supports the C-17 Globemaster III weapon system.

Partnering with active-duty, Guard and civilian agencies, the 446th Airlift Wing provides airlift support to Operation Deep Freeze, the National Science Foundation’s U.S. Antarctic Program.

“Our mission is to provide ready Airmen to support global operations and our vision is Airmen first, a cohesive and ready team,” Bolling said.

Currently CMSgt James Bolling is the Senior Enlisted Leader at the 931st Mission Support Group at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

He serves as the principal advisor to the commander on matters of health, welfare, morale, professional development, good order of discipline, mission readiness and effective employment of the group’s 177 enlisted members.

CMSgt Bolling enlisted into the United States Air Force in January 2000 as an active-duty member and was assigned to the 56th Security Forces Squadron at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

He served as a Security Forces Specialist, Patrolman and on the External Security Response Team.

In 2002, Chief Bolling was deployed to Camp Oasis, Bahrain, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a Fire team Leader and Security Controller.

Returning from deployment, he was stationed at Keflavik Naval Air Station in Iceland, where he served as a Flight Chief and Security Controller.

In 2005, Chief Bolling was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base and held the role of Security Forces Patrolman and Flight Chief.

Chief Bolling would follow his dream to become a civilian police officer and left active duty to be become a traditional reservist with the 507th Security Forces Squadron at Tinker in 2006.

Chief Bolling was deployed to Kirkuk Air Base in support of IRAQI FREEDOM in Iraq in 2007 as a Radio Telephone Operator assigned to the Base Defense Operation Center and the Air Force Liaison at the Army Tactical Operation Center.

Chief Bolling was promoted to SMSgt in 2013 where he performed duties as the Operations Superintendent.

During this time, he deployed to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, where he was selected to be a leader for the base Closure and Transition Team.

In 2018 Chief Bolling was hired as the Training Superintendent for the 507th Security Forces Squadron at Tinker AFB.

In was in 2019 Chief Bolling was selected as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 507th Security Forces Squadron where he was responsible for the daily management and coordination of manpower and resources in support of 131 assigned Reserve and four Active Reserve personnel.

He provided oversight and guidance to the Security Forces Commander with applications of information, personnel, equipment, budgets and all Readiness Reporting items. During this time Chief Bolling deployed to Kuwait International Airport as the Senior Enlisted Leader.

Bolling grew up a “military brat” living in California, Florida, Arizona and Texas but mostly in Arizona.

The most rewarding part of it?

“It’s the success of my younger airmen to help guide them,” Chief Bolling said. “My role now is not about me but grooming future leaders in the military. Whether helping them through education or getting Airman of the Year. When they win it’s successful to me.”

Bolling has much the same thoughts with respect to the Purcell Police Department.

“I have a responsibility in the police department. Chief Elmore  and I won’t be there forever. It’s about helping the department and preparing for the future,” he said.

The assistant chief says, “no two days are ever the same. I always had a dream what I wanted to do,” he confirmed.

“I’ve enjoyed it although the career field is tough and demanding,” he said.

Bolling has been at Purcell PD since 2015.

He started working in the civilian status in 2006 with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department working his way up to Captain in patrol.

He’s on the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and thoroughly enjoys that position.

“I enjoy the community as a whole,” he said. “The community is very accepting of the police department. I’ve had invitations to go back to Arizona and turned them down.

“I enjoy being out in the community interacting with different functions of what makes a community and what people do. This is a good place. I’ve lived in small communities in Arizona and they don’t have this.”

Working at the Purcell Police Department can be tough on recruiting, Bolling reports of the higher pay in larger area towns.

“We have to create a culture where officers feel valued. It’s the same in the military. We have to take care of each other and create a positive work environment where you are not just a number. There’s a lot of value in anyone willing to put their life on the line for the betterment of the community or country.”