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Chief Jim Kelly began his law enforcement career with the Ellensburg Police Department in 1976. He transferred to the Auburn Police Department in 1979. Before his promotion to Sergeant in 1990, he worked as a Patrol Officer, as K-9 Officer for 7 years and as a Property Crimes Detective. As Sergeant, Chief Kelly was assigned to the Special Investigations Unit, Patrol and Major Crimes Investigations. In 1996 he was promoted to Lieutenant in charge of Support Services. In December of that year the Lieutenant position was reclassified as Commander and he was reassigned to Patrol. He became the Assistant Chief of Police in March 1999 and then Chief in October of 1999.

Chief Kelly received his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Tacoma Community College and his Bachelors Degree from Columbia Southern University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Northwest Command College. He is a member of the Auburn Rotary, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.