West Point honors Shoup for 28 years with PD

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WEST POINT - The City of West Point is honored to acknowledge James Shoup, of the West Point Police Department, has decided to hang his holster up after serving the citizens of West Point for 28 years.

Officer Shoup started his career as a police officer in October of 1979 as a member of the United States Army in the Military Police Corp.   Officer Shoup also worked at the Iowa State Penitentiary retiring from there on his 55th birthday with 30 years of service.  He joined the police force in West Point in August of 1992 and has served until retirement this past January 11, 2021.  It should also be noted that Officer Shoup is the longest running, active reserve in the State of Iowa.

Officer Shoup was a well-respected officer and involved with such programs as Safety Incidences, CHIP; teaching day care children to be respectful and how to grow to be proper citizens.  Officer Shoup loved to spoil the daycare children and often did so with ice cream, coloring books, candy and other special treats.  At Christmas he would bring in his Santa bag and bring the children gifts and candy canes.  To observe Officer Shoup with these children, it did not take long to see that these were “his kids” and to them he was “Officer Jim”  Officer Jim Shoup and his wife, Deb, could be seen every year in costume on Beggars Night either in the patrol car or the Police Department’s golf cart handing out candy to the children.  He was also involved with Crime Stoppers to represent the City of West Point, Big Brother/Big Sisters, Holiday Basket Program and Just Stop and Talk with Kids and Adults.  In August of 2017 Officer Shoup was selected as the Grand Marshall of the West Point Sweet Corn Festival parade with his wife Deb by his side.  Officer Shoup took many first place wins at the Nationals for shooting but most recently received three First Place Wins in the Spring of 2019 at the Iowa State Reserves Law Enforcement Officers Training and Annual Shoot displaying his excellent marksmanship.

When Officer Shoup addressed the Mayor, Council and others in attendance he did so with a heartfelt letter of gratitude, thanking those who had given him the opportunity to be an Officer for the West Point Police Department.  He stated, “I am grateful to those who guided me, advised me and believed in me” and that he was honored to have served the City of West Point. 

He concluded with saying “At a Sweet Corn Festival, not long ago, a daycare child told me “You are not a Hero; you are Officer Jim”.  Officer Shoup then went on to state, “As of this night I am Just Jim”.

The City of West Point would like to thank Officer Jim Shoup for 28 years of successes, accomplishments, and Memories.  It was Our honor, Sir!

Brad Roberts, city, James Shoup, news, Pen City Current, plaque, police, retirement, west point

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