A. C. Roper
A. C. Roper, Jr (born November 6, 1963 in Birmingham) is Chief of the Birmingham Police Department.
Biography
Roper grew up in the Birmingham neighborhoods of Acipco and Fountain Heights. He graduated from Phillips High School, where he was a member of the Junior ROTC and went on to study for two years at UAB before joining the Montgomery Police Department as a patrol officer. While in school he shucked oysters at Rockefellers on Southside.
He became an academy instructor and recruiter for the Montgomery Police and rose to the rank of Corporal while he completed a bachelor of science in criminal justice at Troy State University. He also holds a master of science in criminal justice from the University of Alabama.
In 1988 Roper joined the Hoover Police Department. He rose through the ranks at Hoover, working as a patrol officer, narcotics investigator and traffic sergeant before being promoted to training lieutenant. From there he became commander of the traffic and patrol divisions for three years, then commander of investigative services for another two years, and was promoted to Assistant Chief in April 2005. Meanwhile he continued his training at the FBI National Academy and the Southeastern Law Enforcement Executive Development Program.
Roper is also a Colonel in the Army Reserve. He has served with the 81st Regional Readiness Command and is now assigned to the 87th Regional Support Group East, based in Hoover. He was deployed during the Gulf War and in the Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as a spokesman for all U. S. Army personnel in Afghanistan. He has been awarded the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the General Douglas McArthur Leadership Award. The Hoover Chamber of Commerce awarded him their 2007 "Freedom Award".
Roper was Assistant Chief of the Hoover Police Department when he was named by Larry Langford to succeed Annetta Nunn, who retired shortly after meeting with the Mayor-elect following the 2007 election. He was sworn in at the Birmingham Museum of Art on November 30, 2007.
He has described his to crimefighting as "zero-tolerance", recognizing the value of attacking low-level crimes to overcome a "culture of lawlessness" in some communities, to earn the respect and support of the general population, and, often, to get breaks in bigger cases. He cites personnel turnover, inadequate recruiting and insufficient funding for personnel and equipment as challenges for his administration. He plans to present a detailed plan for overhauling the department and its operations at the end of January 2008.
Roper serves on the boards of the Literacy Council of Central Alabama and the Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center. In 1997 Roper became an ordained minister and is a volunteer assistant pastor at the Faith Chapel Christian Center in McDonald Chapel. He and his wife, Edith, also teach a weekly Bible study at Bluff Park Community School. The couple has two daughters, Krystle and Amber.
| Preceded by: Annetta Nunn |
Chief of Birmingham Police Department November 30, 2007–present |
Succeeded by: (current) |
References
- Robinson, Carol and Barnett Wright (November 6, 2007) "Langford names A.C. Roper Birmingham police chief." Birmingham News
- Robinson, Carol (November 7, 2007) "New chief's police work shaped by Army duties, being minister." Birmingham News
- Norris, Toraine (December 1, 2007) "Birmingham police chief A.C. Roper sworn in." Birmingham News
- Robinson, Carol (January 24, 2008) "Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper envisions department's future, more secure city." Birmingham News
External links
- Assistant Chief A. C. Roper, Jr at HooverPD.com