The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • J.D. Meadows speaks in his capacity as law enforcement liaison for the Governors Highway Safety Program in this 2003 photo. He took on that position after retiring as a captain at Beckley Police Department in 2001. Meadows passed away Saturday at the age of 57, at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, following a long illness. File Photo

    JD Meadows
February 6, 2012

City mourns retired police Capt. J.D. Meadows

By Wendy Holdren Register-Herald Reporter

BECKLEY — Retired Capt. James Darrell “J.D.” Meadows, 57, of Shady Spring, passed away Saturday after suffering a long illness, but his impact on the community will not soon be forgotten.

Meadows retired as a captain after 24 years of service and spent much of his time working as a D.A.R.E. officer and as a highway safety coordinator for the Southern Regional Highway Safety Program.

Beckley Police Chief Tim Deems says he knew Meadows for over 20 years.

“I worked with him not only at the police department but after he retired as the liaison for the Governor’s Highway Safety Program,” Deems said. “He was always dedicated to his work, and I think he’ll be remembered for what he did in highway safety and when he worked at the police department. His work as a D.A.R.E. officer made a big impact with the kids he taught that program to.”

Councilman Cedric Robertson says Meadows will be dearly missed. He worked with Meadows before becoming a member of council.

“J.D. was a community-oriented police officer. He loved the kids in the community. He was just a good police officer. Everybody knew Officer Meadows. He would do anything he could to help anyone, but especially the kids in the community.”

A memorial service for Meadows will be at 8 p.m. Thursday at Bradley Freewill Baptist Church with State Police Chaplain Jimmy Mitchell officiating. Friends may call after 5 p.m. Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to the Bowers Hospice House, 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801, in memory of J.D. Meadows.

— E-mail: wholdren@register-herald.com

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