The Foundation was established by Jim and Derek Hotsinpiller’s family to honor Jim, who passed suddenly while serving at the Bridgeport Police Department, and to pay tribute to Derek’s sacrifice and a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice while serving with the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Lt. James W. Hotsinpiller, Jr. served as member of the Bridgeport Police Department for 27 years. He was second in command at the department and was a member of the Child Abuse Task Force. Jim worked as commander of the Bridgeport’s Special Response Team, and also worked closely with Clarksburg’s Special Response Unit. His professionalism, dedication and morals were unquestionable.
A graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy and a student of Criminal Justice at Fairmont State University, Jim was passionate about law enforcement. He was also very involved with his community. Jim helped to establish the youth soccer program in Bridgeport, where he coached many of his sons’ teams over the years. He always put his family first.
On December 15, 2001, before his 50th birthday, Jim passed away suddenly. He left behind his wife Pamela, and two sons, Dustin and Derek. Both young men chose to follow in their father’s footsteps. By July 2002, Dustin became a Patrolman with the Bridgeport Police Department, and was soon promoted to Detective. By April of 2010, Derek became a Deputy United States Marshal assigned to the Northern District of West Virginia.
It had always been both young men’s intention to pursue careers in the federal system. On September 2013 Dustin graduated the United States Marshals Academy and was assigned to the Northern District of WV as a Deputy United States Marshal.
Deputy US Marshal Derek W. Hotsinpiller was born on June 2, 1986, the youngest son of Pam and Jim and younger brother to Dustin. He was raised in a home that was passionate about serving others, helping people in need, and always encouraged to use his intellectual and athletic gifts to protect the most vulnerable among us. After graduating from Fairmont State University in 2009 with a degree in Criminal Justice, Derek pursued his dream to become a Deputy US Marshal.
At the age of 23, Derek left home to attend the USMS Academy. He was the youngest member of his class, but determination and hard work were in his blood. On April 23, 2010, Derek graduated and was issued badge number 4595.
Early in the morning hours of February 16, 2011, deputies assigned to the United States Marshal Service along with local and state law enforcement officers, assembled in Elkins, WV to execute search and arrest warrants. Following a forced entry into the dwelling, the fugitive fired through a closed door directly into the path of the oncoming officers. Derek was fatally wounded. At the age of 24, Derek had made the ultimate sacrifice. He left behind his fiancée Megan, his mother Pam, his brother Dustin, and his sister-in-law Ashley. All will hold his memory dear for eternity including his nephews Landon, Liam and Logan.
The Hotsinpiller Foundation’s mission is to support and assist law enforcement agencies, officers, and their families. We provide equipment and training for these agencies and their officers, both human and K-9. We hope to create a safer environment for the officers performing their duties. We assist the families of fallen officers and injured officers as well as assisting the injured officers themselves by providing what we can to help them in their time of need. We also offer scholarships to WV high school seniors in the designated counties who have been accepted into a state college or university and intend to major in criminal justice or related fields and pursue a career in law enforcement, to students upon completion of their sophomore year in criminal justice as recommended by their advisor or instructor, and to Law Enforcement Officers pursuing a Criminal Justice degree.
The James and Derek Hotsinpiller Memorial Foundation, Inc. is a public non-profit charity based in Bridgeport, WV that encourages higher education for graduating high school students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
The James and Derek Hotsinpiller Memorial Foundation, Inc. is solely responsible for the content of this website. The official badge of Deputy U.S. Marshals is used with permission of the U.S. Marshals Service and does not indicate an endorsement by that agency of the content of this website.
