Scott Roper, who retired from Jonesboro Police Department after a 33-year career in law enforcement – 20 as a captain – will take the City of Jonesboro Code Enforcement Director role, Mayor Harold Copenhaver announced Thursday.
“I think Scott’s experience as a leader at JPD and his ability to see the needs of our city holistically will make him a great leader for what is already a great team in our Code Enforcement department,” Copenhaver said.
Roper, an Arkansas State University graduate who grew up in Atlanta and graduated high school in Ohio, has lived in Jonesboro since 1986 and graduated from A-State in 1991. He was inducted into the ASU Hall of Honor in 2010.
He replaces Mike Tyner, who resigned last month, as head of the team of COJ code enforcement officers.
Roper said the new position will be a challenge because of Jonesboro’s growth over the years, as well as again neighborhoods that challenge city officials, but more important, home owners.
“It is important to have strong codes and code enforcement because we’ve seen tremendous growth in not only the economy but population since I came here,” Roper said. “It’s through strong and enforced codes that beautify and keep our neighborhoods clean.”
Roper has been married to his wife, Vanessa, 32 years, and they have a daughter, Hunter, who is a senior at ASU and a 14-year-old son, Ben, at Valley View High School.