The minute you saw that big smile beaming from underneath that bushy black mustache you immediately knew Oxford Police Officer James J. Flores was on the case.
Seeing him patrolling the streets was a great comfort to folks because he was truly the epitome of a beloved small town cop.
‘I think almost everybody that met him liked him,? said Jack LeRoy, who served on the police department from 1971 through 1994, spending the last 7? years as chief. ‘I think he was just the kind of guy that everybody took a shine to.?
Unfortunately, the only place anyone will ever see Flores? smile again, at least on this earth, is in photographs as the Metamora resident passed away unexpectedly Friday, May 29, 2009. He was 55.
‘Jim was a super guy,? LeRoy said. ‘I’m truly going to miss him.?
Flores began his law enforcement career with Oxford in 1975 as one of four officers the village police department hired when it took over patrolling the township.
‘Jimmy was a very close friend, a fine partner and a good cop,? said retired Oxford officer Jim Malcolm. ‘He was always there and he did the right thing always.?
When the joint township-village police agency disbanded in early 2000, Flores retired, but not for long as he went back to work in April 2001 as a part-time officer for the new village PD.
‘I would probably put Jimmy at the top of the list (as far as) being a compassionate and caring officer,? said village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski. ‘For me personally, Jim was a friend and he’s going to be missed by this department.?
Neymanowski said Flores took great pleasure in working community events like parades and festivals, and interacting with children.
One of his last official acts as a police officer was driving the lead car in this year’s Memorial Day parade, something that meant a lot to him having served with the Marine Corps in Vietnam and being a member of Oxford American Legion Post 108.
During his career, Flores had the distinction of being Oxford’s first minority officer (he was Hispanic) and first motorcycle cop when the department got a Harley Davidson in 1996.
As an officer, Flores always had the respect of his brothers in blue. Everyone knew they could count on him when trouble started.
‘Jimmy was a good backup in a fight,? LeRoy recalled. ‘He was like me, we weren’t the biggest people in the world, but when we’d get into scraps, with his help, we’d always come out on top.?
‘I never worried about my back when working with Jimmy because I always knew he was there,? Malcolm said.
Although he was a good man to have at your side when the fists started flying, Dispatcher Tony VanHouten remembers Flores as an excellent peacemaker.
‘He was very good at dealing with people,? said VanHouten, who’s worked for the department since 1987. ‘Diffusing situations ? he was great at doing that. He knew the right things to say.?
Over the years, Flores received several letters of appreciation, commendations and citations for his dedication to service, commitment to the job and overall excellence, according to Neymanowski.
‘He didn’t let anything get in his way,? LeRoy noted. ‘I thought a lot of Jim. He tried hard at the job and did well.?
Neymanowski said he’s going to miss having Flores? ‘upbeat? personality around the department because he could always make someone who was having a bad day feel better just by chatting with them.
‘He was the kind of guy you could sit down with and know he was listening to you,? Neymanowski said.
Flores was the genuine article and the people around him appreciated that.
‘He had a kind heart, was nuts about kids and was a fine Christian gentleman,? Malcolm noted.
‘He’d doing anything for anybody,? VanHouten recalled. ‘He’d go out of his way to please people, even if he didn’t know you.?
LeRoy found Flores? passing quite ‘sobering? because all four of the officers hired by Oxford in 1975 ? the others being Frank Leach, Homer Lotz and Stephen ‘Gordy? Burnham ? are now deceased
‘In fact, six out of the 12 full-time (officers) that I commanded on the department when I was chief are dead,? he noted. The other two are Tony Martin and Dan Miller.
Flores is survived by his beloved wife Hazel and children Chantell (Adam) Hickman, of Dryden; Kristina (Jason) Gitre, of Metamora; Jim and Steven Flores, of Metamora.
He’s also survived by his grandchildren David, Autumn, Alex, Maya, Hailie, Kaycee, Hannah, and Logan; his mother Nora Miklia, of Oxford; sister Susan (Dennis) Beach, of Oxford; and brother Marc (Debbie) Flores, of Oxford.
Flores is preceded in death by his father John Flores.
On Wednesday, June 3, the family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. at the Leonard Community Church (4391 Whitehead Rd.) in Addison Township. Flores was a member there.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at the Oxford Free Methodist Church (790 S. Lapeer Rd.).
Arrangements made by Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, Lake Orion Chapel.
Memorials may be made to the Flores family and reflections on Flores? life submitted at www.sparksgriffin.com.