James Festa - Massachusetts Police Officer and Former Star Athlete

Long before his career in law enforcement in Peabody, Massachusetts, James “Jimmy” Festa developed many of the qualities that would define his professional life through competitive sports. At Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in Peabody, Massachusetts, James Festa was captain of the football and basketball teams. As a football player, he was a Greater Boston League all star, led his team to a Super Bowl victory, was named team defensive MVP, and was later inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.

James Festa continued his athletic career in Merrimack College, where he was four-year captain of the football team and earned multiple all star awards. He graduated in 2000 with a BA in sociology.

In his professional career, Jimmy Festa relies on the same discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness he built as an athlete to succeed. He began his career in 2000 as an associate probation officer at Lynn District Court, gaining experience in defendant interviews, pre-trial intake investigations, courtroom coverage, and case flow reporting. He later served five years as a court officer at Salem District Court before attending the Lowell Police Academy in 2010.

After graduating, James Festa spent 13 years with the Peabody Police Department. As a patrol officer, he investigated crimes and accidents, made arrests, responded to emergencies, enforced traffic laws, interviewed witnesses, and testified in court. In 2023, he brought his law enforcement knowledge into the private security field as an executive protection professional with Legion Security.