James Colley

James began his law enforcement career with a Bay Area police agency, where he served as a patrol officer, detective, and ultimately Sergeant. During his time as a homicide detective, he served as the lead investigator on 45 homicide cases, as well as 14 law enforcement–involved fatal incident investigations, frequently spearheading complex, multi-jurisdictional cases.

Throughout his career, James conducted hundreds of witness and suspect interviews, executed search warrants, and worked closely with prosecutors to prepare cases for trial. His investigative experience includes violent crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other high-stakes criminal matters requiring meticulous case development and evidence analysis.

In addition to his investigative assignments, James served as a SWAT Team Leader, coordinating high-risk operations and managing critical incidents requiring decisive leadership and tactical precision.

Following his law enforcement career, James transitioned into private investigations and currently works in criminal defense, assisting attorneys with case review, witness interviews, canvassing, surveillance, and investigative strategy. His work focuses on identifying critical facts, uncovering inconsistencies, and developing information that supports effective legal defense.

James is the founder of COLLEY PI, LLC, a licensed investigative agency providing criminal defense investigations and specialized investigative services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of San Francisco, graduating cum laude. He was also recognized during his law enforcement career with Officer of the Year honors and the Distinguished Service Award for his work as a homicide detective.

One of his homicide investigations was featured on American Detective with Lt. Joe Kenda on the Investigation Discovery network. He also served as a presenter for the California Homicide Investigators Association (CHIA), where he spoke on a specific homicide case he led.