James D. Rancourt

Jim was born in Bridgeport, CT on January 27th, 1952, to Irene Macey Rancourt and the late Kenneth N. Rancourt. During his childhood in Bridgeport and Monroe, CT, he was an accomplished musician, played several instruments, and won numerous awards throughout his early life. He graduated from Masuk High School in Monroe in1969 and was leader and president of the band, was involved in many activities including the tennis team, business manager of the yearbook, and worked on several school plays. After graduating he earned a degree in Criminal Justice, Cum Laude, from Western Connecticut University in Danbury. Jim later moved to Newtown, CT and lived there for twenty-five years.

Jim had a diverse career in both public law enforcement, private security, private investigation, and was a nationally known domestic terrorism expert. While studying at Western Connecticut State University, he joined the Monroe Police Department and was appointed to Monroe’s first Youth Bureau and was later promoted to detective. As head of the Youth Bureau, he designed the security program for the Monroe Public School System and trained Security Officers. He founded the Connecticut Youth Officer Association, becoming its first president. After leaving the Monroe Police Department he continued to be involved with the Renee Freer unsolved murder case with fellow Monroe detectives. He was a certified instructor in several areas as well as an NRA instructor in five specialties.

Jim later became Senior Director of Security at United States Surgical Corporation in Norwalk for over two decades. As Senior Director, he graduated first in his class at Executive Security International in Grand Junction, Colorado and established a course record in combat shooting, graduated from Gunsight Academy in Paulden, Arizona and holds a record time in the practical pistol course, and trained at International Rescue and Tactical Consultants in South Hampton, LI. He designed U.S. Surgical’s Executive Protection Program and provided weapons and close combat training to his staff. Jim was considered a leading expert in animal rights terrorism in the United States and while working in Dell, Montana, Jim correctly profiled Ted Kaczynsky, The Unabomber, as an ecoterrorist before the FBI arrested him. He then began JDR Solutions, a private investigation firm in which he conducted detailed threat assessments, security and safety surveys leveraging security technologies to protect employees, reduce losses, audit processes and improve safety and security levels for corporations and the government.

He was involved in many aspects of national security including the development of the security detail for the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, he introduced a new generation of bullet and IED fragment resistant technology to DARPA, TACOM, subsequently tested at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. He was guest speaker at the FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA on domestic terrorism many times, and designed crisis management software to simulate the nationally recognized Incident Command System (ICS) for Government DHS agencies, first responders and infrastructure corporations. He was also instrumental in finding the evidence to convict Richard Crafts with friend and coworker, Keith Mayo, on the Helle Craft Wood Chipper Murder Case in Newtown, CT.

Jim later moved to Phoenix, Arizona and was a Captain in the Maricopa County Arizona Sherriff’s Department and volunteered his time raising money for the families of fallen officers killed in the line of duty. He also worked as a fraud investigator for One AZ Credit Union up until retiring in 2015.

He spent the better part of the last decade lovingly exploring Arizona. Sedona, Prescott, and the Mogollon Rim past Payson being some of his favorite locations to visit. He enjoyed riding his motorcycles, golfing, watching football, especially the Patriots, elk hunting in Montana, combat shooting, enjoying single malt scotch and cigars with “the guys”, trips to Rocky Point, Mexico, and countless snowmobile trips to Island Pond, Vermont.

Spending time with his family was most important to Jim. He spent many days at his family’s cabins in Conway, New Hampshire, Conway Lake, Crystal Lake in Eaton, and rides through Mount Washington Valley on his BMW motorcycle.

Jim was predeceased by his father, Kenneth Rancourt. Survivors include his mother, Irene Rancourt, his daughter, Janelle Rancourt, his son, Jordan Rancourt (Madeline), his longtime partner, Sharon Seivert, and by his brothers and sister, Ken (Jane), Michael (Barbara), Janet (David); Paul, Norman (Heather), and as well as nieces and nephews, Jessica, Jan-Marie (Drew), Andrew, Rebecca, Lauren, and Madison.