Dec. 02--Why will good guys and bad guys alike think they're seeing double now that Officer James White has again joined Corning Police Department?
Because White's identical twin, Jeremy White, also serves as an officer in Corning, and only their mother can easily tell the two apart.
The crime fighting brothers were both hired by the city back in 2006, James first and Jeremy six months later.
While Jeremy has remained on the force since he was first hired, James left after two years to the San Francisco area where his wife was attending dental school. While there he served as a police officer for two years.
"That was a good experience, but I was really glad to get back to the North State," White said.
Once back to his hometown of Red Bluff, White was hired by the Red Bluff Police Department and his wife, now a dentist, opened her practice.
"I worked in Red Bluff for about 14 months, but that department and city is seeing their fair share of economic problems, and I really don't see any light at the end of that tunnel. So when I heard of the opening in Corning, I was ready to get back to where I started my career," White said.
After working on a couple of other police forces, White can compare and feels Corning police officers are treated better and more fairly by the city and community than he saw in other places.
"It is really nice to be back with my brother and on a force where I feel the support from fellow officers and the entire department," White commented.
He considers the change to be a "good step."
"I left the department here on good terms and I'm returning on good terms. You couldn't ask for any better than that," White says.
Both brothers graduated from the Butte College Police Academy, after they graduated from Red Bluff High School.
They are the sons of Jamie and Wendy White, and they grew up in Richmond, moving with their family, which includes their parents, and another brother and a sister, to Red Bluff in 1996.
Following high school, James White attended California State University, Chico, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice before entering the police academy.
When hired the brothers admitted their parents had mixed feelings about their twin boys becoming police officers.
"They are glad we entered a career field that we are interested in and can be proud of but are constantly advising us to stay as safe as possible," said White.
White and his wife now own a home in Red Bluff and he plans on having a lengthy and successful career in law enforcement right here in Corning.
Copyright 2011 - Corning Observer, Calif.
