Mike Coppage: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
While in the United States Army, Coppage served as a military policeman and criminal investigator.
While in the United States Army, Coppage served as a military policeman and criminal investigator.


He joined the Birmingham Police in [[1974]], first as a patrol officer, then as an evidence technician, instructor, patrol supervisor, homicide and robbery detective, [[Birmingham S.W.A.T. Team|S.W.A.T]] commander, and assistant to the deputy chief of support services. He commanded the East Precinct as a captain before being promoted to Chief in 1998.
He joined the Birmingham Police in [[1974]], first as a patrol officer, then as an evidence technician, instructor, patrol supervisor, homicide and robbery detective, [[Birmingham S.W.A.T. Team|S.W.A.T]] commander, and assistant to the deputy chief of support services. He commanded the East Precinct as a captain before being promoted to Chief by Mayor [[Richard Arrington, Jr]] in [[1998]].


Coppage resigned his position on February 7, [[2003]] in order to accept the directorship of the State's Department of Public Safety. He resigned from that position in November, [[2006]].
As Chief, Coppage was able to report double-digit reductions in Birmingham's overall crime rate for his first two years. The rate held steady after that. Coppage resigned his position on February 7, [[2003]] in order to accept the directorship of the State's Department of Public Safety.
 
As a member of [[Bob Riley]]'s cabinet, Coppage spent much of his time lobbying the legislature to fund expansion of the department and new equipment. He oversaw the implementation of a new driver's license system and initiated the training of numerous troopers in federal immigration and customs enforcement.
 
Coppage resigned from the Department of Public Safety in November, [[2006]]. He plans to do some traveling with his wife, Judy, and return to Birmingham for his retirement.


Coppage holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in public administration (1990) from [[UAB]]. He has also completed programs for government executives at Harvard University and for executive at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Coppage holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in public administration (1990) from [[UAB]]. He has also completed programs for government executives at Harvard University and for executive at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Line 24: Line 28:
}}
}}
{{end box}}
{{end box}}
==References==
* MacDonald, Ginny (November 14, 2006) "Director of DPS Coppage to retire." ''Birmingham News''.


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 12:06, 14 November 2006

Colonel W. M. "Mike" Coppage is the Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety and a former Chief of Police for the Birmingham Police Department.

While in the United States Army, Coppage served as a military policeman and criminal investigator.

He joined the Birmingham Police in 1974, first as a patrol officer, then as an evidence technician, instructor, patrol supervisor, homicide and robbery detective, S.W.A.T commander, and assistant to the deputy chief of support services. He commanded the East Precinct as a captain before being promoted to Chief by Mayor Richard Arrington, Jr in 1998.

As Chief, Coppage was able to report double-digit reductions in Birmingham's overall crime rate for his first two years. The rate held steady after that. Coppage resigned his position on February 7, 2003 in order to accept the directorship of the State's Department of Public Safety.

As a member of Bob Riley's cabinet, Coppage spent much of his time lobbying the legislature to fund expansion of the department and new equipment. He oversaw the implementation of a new driver's license system and initiated the training of numerous troopers in federal immigration and customs enforcement.

Coppage resigned from the Department of Public Safety in November, 2006. He plans to do some traveling with his wife, Judy, and return to Birmingham for his retirement.

Coppage holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in public administration (1990) from UAB. He has also completed programs for government executives at Harvard University and for executive at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.


Preceded by:
Johnnie Johnson, Jr
Birmingham Chief of Police
1998 - 2003
Succeeded by:
Annetta Nunn
Preceded by:
?
Director, Alabama Dept. of Public Safety
2003 - 2006
Succeeded by:
Chris Murphy

References

  • MacDonald, Ginny (November 14, 2006) "Director of DPS Coppage to retire." Birmingham News.

External links