Chief A.C. Roper

Chief A.C. Roper was born in Birmingham, Alabama where he is a graduate of the Birmingham public school system. He has over 27 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Montgomery Police Department in 1985 where he was promoted to Corporal and served as a Patrol Officer, Academy Instructor and Recruiter. After more than three years away from home, he returned to the Birmingham metropolitan area when he was hired by the Hoover Police Department. In Hoover, he was promoted through the ranks, serving as a Patrol Officer, Narcotics Detective, Traffic Sergeant, Training Coordinator, Operations Bureau Commander, and Investigative Bureau Commander; culminating with his promotion to Assistant Chief of Police.

In November 2007, Chief Roper was appointed as Birmingham's thirty-third Chief of Police. In this position, he commands the largest municipal police department in the state with over 1,100 full time employees. Chief Roper has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Troy University and holds a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of

Alabama and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute and the Southeastern Law Enforcement Executive Development Course.

Chief Roper has over 30 years experience in the Army Reserves where he serves as a Brigadier General. He is currently the Brigade Commander of the 415^th Chemical Brigade in Greenville, South Carolina. He deployed during Operation Desert Shield and again during Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as the military spokesperson for all U.S. Army forces in Afghanistan. He has completed several military leadership courses with honors. He is the recipient of numerous military awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the General Douglas McArthur Leadership Award, which is given annually to the top U.S. Army Officers in the nation.

Chief Roper is a licensed and ordained minister serving at Faith Chapel Christian Center in Birmingham. He serves as an Adjunct Professor for Bethel University’s College of Criminal Justice and is a member of the FBI National Academy Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and numerous other professional development associations and community organizations. He also serves on the Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee. He and Edith, his beautiful wife of 27 years are the proud parents of two lovely daughters, Krystle and Amber.