Biography
Prior to coming to Johnson & Wales University, James Desmarais, J.D., accrued 27 years of law enforcement experience across a wide spectrum of positions. He retired as Providence Police detective captain, where he oversaw 137 detectives and detective supervisors.
Desmarais’ positions as a director have included the following departments:
Prosecution
Crime Scene Investigative Unit (CSI)
Police Academy and In-service Training, Narcotics
Desmarais also served as an FBI and Smith & Wesson Academy certified firearms instructor. As a SWAT team member for 25 years, he responded to dozens of critical incidents. Desmarais was a member of the Brown University Forensic Archeological Recovery Team and has authored expert opinions for several federal and state lawsuits involving police policies and practices across the country.
Desmarais obtained his J.D. from the New England School of Law and has been an attorney for 20 years. He also graduated from the Police Executive Research Forum, Senior Management for Police. He has presented seminars across the country on liability for special operations and has also been a course auditor and consultant for the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Education
Senior Management Institute for Police, Police Executive Research Forum
Law Enforcement Executive Leadership
JD, New England Law Boston
Law
BS, Roger Williams University
Administration of Justice
AS, Johnson & Wales College
Computer Systems Management
Bar Passage
Licensed Attorney
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
New England Division of the International Association of Identification
Rhode Island Bar Association
Rhode Island Bar Association
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
New England Division of the International Association of Identification
Rhode Island Criminalistics Association
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Rhode Island Criminalistics Association
“Liability for SWAT Officers,” Rhode Island Tactical Officers Association, Cranston. (April 27, 2026).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Bristol, RI, United States. (April 15, 2026).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Bristol, RI, United States. (December 5, 2025).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Bristol, RI, United States. (October 30, 2025).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Bristol, RI, United States. (September 19, 2025).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Bristol, RI, United States. (May 1, 2025).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (April 23, 2025).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (April 4, 2025).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (December 6, 2024).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (October 31, 2024).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (September 20, 2024).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (September 17, 2024).
Law Review Providence Police Academy, “Law Review,” Providence Police Department, Providence, RI. (July 19, 2024).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (May 8, 2024).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (April 25, 2024).
JWU Faculty Expo, “Lecture,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI. (April 12, 2024).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (April 5, 2024).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (December 1, 2023).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (November 2, 2023).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (October 26, 2023).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (October 26, 2023).
New Investigator Class, “The Law of Criminal Investigations,” JWU, Providence, United States. (September 29, 2023).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (September 27, 2023).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (September 27, 2023).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (May 10, 2023).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (April 27, 2023).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (April 11, 2023).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (March 28, 2023).
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, “Research Result of Law Enforcement in the aftermath of the defund the police movement,” ACJS, Washington, DC, United States. (March 18, 2023).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (December 8, 2022).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (November 3, 2022).
New England Association of Chiefs of Police, “The retreat from Proactive Policing after the death of George Floyd,” New England Association of Chiefs of Police, Manchester, VT, United States. (October 31, 2022).
Liability for Mid-Level Managers, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (October 25, 2022).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (September 29, 2022).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (September 29, 2022).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (June 16, 2022).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RI Municipal Police Academy,” Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Lincoln, RI, United States. (May 4, 2022).
JWU, “Proactive Policing after the defund the police movement,” JWU, Providence, RI, United States. (April 7, 2022).
Liability for First Line Supervisors, “RWU School of Justice Studies,” RWU School of Justice Studies, Portsmouth, RI, United States. (April 5, 2022).
3rd Annual Faculty Showcase, “Integrated Learning: An Opportunity Seized and a Lesson Learned,” Johnson & Wales University, Cranston, RI. (September 26, 2019).