News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Cookeville Police Department recognized Detective Alyssa Coppinger as the 2023 Officer Of The Year.
Coppinger is a member of the SWAT team, Armor team, and Recruitment team. She is also a firearms instructor and integrating communications assessments and tactics instructor. Police Chief Randy Evans said Coppinger’s hard work has impressed everyone.
“I will tell you a story when we hired her I told her mom that I’d take care of her,” Evans said. “Her mom was a little anxious about leaving her with us, but I think she has taken care of us.”
Coppinger was sworn into the Cookeville Police Department in 2019. Evans read remarks from Captain Randy Brown, who praised Coppinger for her work ethic.
“Her hard work and attention to detail and her assigned cases have resulted in multiple felony arrests,” Evans said. “Detective Coppinger is a dependable leader in the department when it comes to financial and property-related crimes. Her value to the department goes beyond her role in CID.”
Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the award reflects the good work the police department does.
“That just goes to show you what type of citizens and police officers we have here in Cookeville,” Wheaton said. “I could not be more proud of you all, thank you for what you do for this community and for our citizens. We are absolutely blessed and lucky to have you all be a part of Cookeville.”
The department awarded life-saving awards to Sergeant Tammy Goolsby, Officer Cody Scott, Officer Lane Peebles, and Officer Brandon Lindsay. In March Goolsby was off duty playing pickleball at the Cookeville Community Center when a gentleman playing basketball went into cardiac arrest. Goolsby was aware of what happened and performed CPR. Evans said the gentleman would not be alive without Goolsby’s instinctive actions.
Scott, Peebles, and Lindsay responded to a mental crisis on Willow Avenue in June. The officers distracted and de-escalated the gentleman who was suffering.
“Without their calm, decisive actions, their bravery, another one of our citizens may not be here,” Evans said.
