Atlanta, GA – The State Board of Pardons and Paroles has promoted James Kopp to Chief Parole Officer in Statesboro. Kopp was the Assistant Chief Parole Officer in Savannah, a position he’s held since April 2011.

Kopp began his career with the Board in December 2001 as a Parole Officer in the Savannah Parole Center.  He later advanced to the position of Senior Parole Officer in 2002 where he was assigned to the Savannah Impact Program as an electronic monitoring specialist, sex offender specialist, and arrest team member. He has participated in numerous joint operations with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In 2008, he participated in the G-8 security effort in Atlanta.

Kopp is a Certified POST General Instructor, Specialized Instructor in Firearms and in 2011 was assigned as the Southeast Regional Firearms Training Coordinator. He’s also served as a Field Training Officer. In 2012, he attended the inaugural Parole Leadership and Development Course.

Prior to being employed by the Board, Chief Kopp served in the U.S. Army as an infantry squad leader and is a combat veteran of the Gulf War, where he received numerous awards and citations. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1996, he went on to attend and graduate from Armstrong Atlantic State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.

Chief Kopp and his family reside in Effingham County.

The appointment is effective May 16, 2014.

For more information on the Parole Board please visit our website at www.pap.georgia.gov.

           

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