Mike Coppage
Colonel W. M. "Mike" Coppage was the Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, Chief of Police for the Birmingham Police Department, and an Irondale City Councilor.
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 returned to the Birmingham area for his retirement, residing in the city of Irondale. On February 7, 2008, the Irondale City Council appointed Coppage to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Mike Moers in District 7. In the city's August 2008 municipal elections the number of Council districts was reduced to five, and Coppage did not run for office.
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
- Debro, Anita (February 7, 2008) "Mike Coppage chosen to fill vacant Irondale council seat." Birmingham News.
- MacDonald, Ginny (November 14, 2006) "Director of DPS Coppage to retire." Birmingham News.
External links
- Coppage page at governor.state.al.us/cabinet