James McGuffin began his career with the Arizona Department of Public Safety in 1986 as a highway patrol officer in Quartzsite and Wickenburg. McGuffin was promoted to sergeant in 1992, remaining in Wickenburg as the area supervisor.
In 1998, McGuffin was promoted to lieutenant. As a lieutenant, McGuffin held a variety of assignments to include: district commander for the Gang Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GITEM); commander of the Vehicle Theft Task Force; and commander of the Department’s Internal Affairs unit. In 2004, McGuffin graduated from Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command.
In 2006, McGuffin was promoted to the rank of commander. As a commander, and eventual reclassification to Major, McGuffin held assignments as the Chief of Staff for the Criminal Justice Support Division and the Agency Support Division, commander of the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy, and Executive Officer for Colonel Halliday.
In October of 2011, Major McGuffin was appointed to Lieutenant Colonel overseeing the Highway Patrol Division. In 2015, McGuffin returned to his permanent rank of Major and held several additional assignments to include Executive Officer for Colonel Milstead. Major McGuffin has now been assigned as the Interim Executive Director for the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority.
