Des Moines Register, Tuesday, January 2, 1996, Page 1A Urbandale officer arrested in D.M. ‘Scores’ of sex-oriented items are also found in the van driven by police veteran James Trimble. By Michael McNarney Register staff Writer

James R. Trimble, Urbandale police officer and school liaison officer for the Urbandale district, was arrested early Monday for allegedly possessing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver.

Also found were “scores” of sex-oriented pictures and letters. No charges relating to those had been filed by Monday night.

Trimble, an 18-year Urbandale police veteran, will likely be suspended until the investigation is completed, Urbandale Police Chief David Hamlin said.

Trimble, 43 was pulled over by Des Moines police about 4 a.m. in the 600 block of Clark Street. In a police report, Officer Steven Kees said, “There was a substantial amount of what appeared to be meth in the van. Besides Trimble, of 501 Second St., West Des Moines, a woman with him in the van was also arrested: Lorrie K. Breiholz, 34, of 433 S.E. Phillip St., No. 106, in Des Moines. Both were charged with possession of narcotics with the intent to deliver them.

Wife Is Arrested, Too

Trimble’s wife was arrested six hours after he was when police raided their home. Robin Lynn Trimble, 41, was charged with possession of narcotics. A police report of the search alleged she was in possession of marijuana.

Trimble’s mother, Beverly, let police search her home at 7213 Palm Drive in Urbandale. They found nothing. Police said the van Trimble was driving, which belongs to his mother, was circling a neighborhood north of downtown when Breiholz was seen by police not wearing a seat belt. They said when Trimble pulled over, he made movements toward the cent of the van “as if he was trying to hide or reach for something.”

Trimble got out of the van and walked toward officers, and he did not get back in the van as ordered. The police report said he was “extremely nervous.”

While Trimble was detained in a police car, he told Kees that he was an Urbandale police officer. Officers found a substance in the van, and a field test indicated that it was methamphetaine. Des Moines police also called Hamlin, Urbandale’s chief, to tell him what happened.

In a telephone interview Monday night, Hamlin said he was shocked when he got the news.

“He had a good work record, a good reputation with the department,” Hamlin said. “I found it rather stunning to hear about it.”

Hamlin said he had not consulted the city attorney, but he said he intends to suspend Trimble pending further investigation. “At that time, I’ll determine his long-term status,” he said.

Hamlin said Trimble had been the school liaison officer for five years.

“I had no idea,” Superintendent Tom Davis said of the news Monday. He referred questions to school attorney Jeff Krausman.

Krausman said officials could not comment because Trimble is employed jointly by the school district and the city.

Trimble was active in D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse resistance Education), an anti-drug education program. “We don’t just teach kids what drugs look like,“ Trimble said in a 1992 interview. “We teach life skills needed to say no to drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Trimble was being held at the Des Moines City Jail Monday night. Bond was set at $19,500.

**********

The Des Moines Register, Wednesday, January 3, 1996, 1A

‘I feel we have to be more careful of who we put in charge of your kids.’ -- Brad Van Horn, parent

Shock, anger follow arrest of policeman

Urbandale youths looked up to James Trimble, who encouraged them to lead responsible, drug-free lives.

By Stephanie Armour Register Staff Writer

Urbandale, Ia. -- For years. Angie Van Horn believed her basketball coach was dedicated to keeping kids off drugs.

Now the 15-year-old doesn’t know what to believe.

Early Tuesday morning, her parents told her that James R. Trimble - an Urbandale police officer and long-time coach - had been arrested. The liaison officer with the Urbandale school district is charged with trafficking in marijuana and methamphetamine.

Police also say Trimble - found with a sexual device inserted in is body - was driving around with scores of sex-oriented videotapes and pictures, including photos of himself. A Des Moines woman was arrested with him.

“I looked up to him as a teacher,” Angie said of Trimble, who had been the ninth-grade girls’ basketball coach. “He would tell us not do drugs and what they can do to you. I’m kind of angry, because he was teaching me not to do that kind of stuff.”

Angie’s not alone. Parents, students and co-workers who know Trimble expressed anger and shock at news of the arrest.

Trimble. An 18-year veteran of the Urbandale force, coached ninth-grade girls’ basketball and volleyball. He also was an officer with the district’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

“A Hollow Spot” Family members also said they were stunned.

“I just have a big hollow spot,” said his mother, Beverly Trimble. “I’m too upset. Until I have a chance to talk to my son, I have no comment. If you would let this subject drop, it would give the family sompeace.

Starting today, the Urbandale district will launch a “crisis plan” - holding group meetings and visits with counselors to discuss Trimble’s arrest.

In light of some of the sexual material found with Trimble, administrators said they will probable talk with students to see if anyone felt uncomfortable with, or was threatened by, the officer.

Trimble has been suspended by the police department and the school district.

As a D.A.R.E. officer, he was one of several police members who would talk to young people about staying off drugs. The 17 week program is aimed at fifth-graders.

He was described as a somewhat temperamental basketball coach who would cheer at football games and sit in on drug-abuse panels. His daughter is a student in the Urbandale school district.

“People Are In Shock” “A lot of people are in shock,” said Urbandale Police Chief David Hamlin. “He had a good background and devoted the last five years to working with young people. It makes it more difficult to understand.”:

But some parents said they don’t understand why Trimble was working with kids in the first place.

“We’re very surprised and upset at the school system,” said Brad Van Horn Angie’s father. “I feel we have to be more careful of who we put in charge of your kids. It stands to reason you can trust a police officer.”

Some said they were troubled by the sexual smorgasbord discovered with Trimble.

He had “all kinds of sexually explicit” material, said Des Moines police Sgt. Bill Judkins. Police said Trimble had a sexual device connected to a battery pack inserted in his body.

School officials described Trimble as “very active” in student activities, although not at the elementary level.

“We are shocked and saddened by this,” said Len Cockman, an Urbandale school spokesman.

But some said there should be few surprises when it comes to methamphetamine.

“Quite frankly, I can tell you we’ve been involved in investigating every race, every nationality, almost every occupation you can think of,” said Des Moines police Lt. Russell Underwood. “Now there’s a police officer, which is devastating.”

School Roles

Urbandale officer James Trimble was involved in: · Coaching ninth-grade girls’ basketball and volleyball in the Urbandale school district. · Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., as a school liaison officer. · Quest, a program at Urbandale Middle School that aims to build character and values.

The Des Moines Register, Wednesday, January 3, 1996, 1A

Trimble’s wife accuses him of domestic abuse after dispute.

He is ordered to stay away from his spouse after allegedly threatening to kill her and himself in a dispute hours before his arrest.

By Tom Alex Register Staff Writer

An Urbandale police officer arrested on drug trafficking charges is also facing a charge of domestic abuse.

James R. Trimble threatened to kill his wife and then commit suicide early New Year’s Day, according to a no-contact order issued Tuesday in Polk County District Court. The order was issued after police said Trimble’s wife turned up at the West Des Moines police station, saying she had been the victim of domestic abuse.

Under the order, Trimble must stay away from his wife, Robin Lynn, until Jan. 24.

The incident is said to have occurred two hour’s into 1996 and about two hours before James Trimble was arrested by Des Moines police.

Trimble, 43, an 18 year veteran of the Urbandale department who has been active in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (d.a.r.e.), was arrested early Monday. police said they found a little over 7 ounces of methamphetamine - $20,000 worth in the van he was driving.

He was charged with two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to deliver and with a tax stamp violation.

Authorities said he also had sexually explicit videotapes and pictures when Des Moines police pulled him over in the 600 block of Clark Street. He has been suspended form his work with the department and the school.

A Des Moines woman with Trimble also was arrested: Lorrie Brieholz, 34, of 433 Philip St. Was charged with possession of narcotics with the intent to deliver. Police said Trimble apparently picked her up at Seventh Street and College Avenue earlier in the morning.

Police said they did not show a prior arrest record for Breiholz and did not say how she came to be in the car.

Police raided the trible home at 501 Second st., West Des Moines, hours after the arrests. Robin Lynn, Timble’s wife, was charged with possession of narcotics after a “dime size” amount of marijuana was found police said. She was later released.

According to the report filed by Trimble’s wife, he allegedly grabbed her by the arms during an argument and left a bruise the size of a quarter on her upper right arm.

Meanwhile, Urbandale Police Chief David Hamlin said officers were checking to see whether any confiscated drugs held for court cases were missing from evidence lockers.

Hamlin said that Trimble, who until Monday headed the five-officer drug prevention unit, has been entrusted in the past with the task of destroying illegal narcotics by burning them.

As with any police officer on the department, Trimble was hired only after an extensive background check, Hamlin said.

At a news conference Tuesday, Des Moines police Sgt. William Judkins described the arrest as traumatic.

“I feel badly for the image of the police department : Judkins said.

No charges were filed in connection with the “large amount” of sexually oriented photographs and videos police said they found on Trimble Judkins, noting that Trimble has been a school liaison officer in Urbandale, made a point of saying none of the picture or videos included anyone of school age.

Following an initial appearance Tuesday in Polk county District Court. Trimble was released from the Polk County Jail under the county’s pretrial release program. He is scheduled to appear in court on the two drug counts on Feb. 6.

This article includes a report from Register Staff Writer Stephanie Armour.