Constable James Joseph Tuohy was the officer in charge of the Feilding Police Station from 1889. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1839. His father was a farmer, and Tuohy was unable to attend school and was entirely self taught. In 1859, he went to Australia, and worked at the diggings in Castlemaine. He then took part in the gold rush in Otago, before moving on to Invercargill. He joined the New Zealand police force in 1862.
Tuohy rapidly rose through the ranks of the police force, becoming a "first-class" sergeant, and transferring to the detective department in 1878. In 1881, he was sent to Christchurch to assist in the suppression of the riots there. From Christchurch, he was sent to Wellington, and then to Auckland, where he remained for seven years. According to the Cyclopedia of New Zealand, during his time as a detective, Tuohy was sent on the most difficult business to various parts of Aotearoa, and "enjoyed the complete confidence of the department". In 1889, he was placed in charge of Feilding.
As part of his private life, Tuohy was a prominent Oddfellow, and assisted in the opening of a lodge in Invercargill. He was also married with six children, two of which are believed to be pictured above.