Undersheriff Copeland

Undersheriff Copeland is a lifelong resident of Washington County. He grew up in the Bartlesville/Dewey areas and graduated from Bartlesville High School. Copeland is an Eagle Scout and currently serves on the Cherokee Area Council #469 Executive Board of Directors as the Vice President of Program. He is also the technology committee chairman for the Philmont Staff Association (Cimarron, N.M.), managing the Association’s Facebook page, Instagram account, and online store.

Copeland has been married to his wife, Kim, since 1996, and they have two sons who are also Eagle Scouts. He serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 2000 in Bartlesville and as an adult advisor for Crew 2000. The Copeland family attends Trinity Baptist Church in Bartlesville.

Education & Training

• Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice – Oklahoma Wesleyan University
• Graduate Degree in Business Administration – Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Law Enforcement Career

Undersheriff Copeland began his law enforcement career in 1995 as a Reserve Police Officer with the Bartlesville Police Department. In 1997, he joined the Washington County Sheriff's Office as a jailer/dispatcher under Sheriff Pat Ballard. By the summer of 1998, he was commissioned as a field deputy.

Over the years, he has worked all three patrol shifts (days, evenings, and nights) and spent several years in the Central Investigations Division. In 2002, he became a certified D.A.R.E. Instructor and later a D.A.R.E. Mentor in 2004. From 2002 to 2006, he served as a School Resource Officer for Caney Valley and Copan Public Schools.

Copeland's leadership and expertise led to multiple promotions:

• Sergeant – 2011
• Lieutenant – 2016
• Undersheriff – February 2019

Certifications & Achievements

• Certified Law Enforcement Driver Training Instructor
• Certified CLEET (Council for Law Enforcement Education and Training) Instructor
• Advanced Peace Officer Certification through CLEET
• Over 1,200 hours of continuing education training with CLEET
• Facilitated over 200 active shooter presentations to more than 40,000 citizens
• Awarded "Deputy of the Year" in 2000 and 2016

Role as Undersheriff

With 25 years of experience at the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Undersheriff Copeland plays a vital role in supervising the Investigation and Patrol Divisions. He also ensures smooth operations at the Detention Center. As the "Chief Deputy" of the office, he works closely with the Sheriff, assisting with the annual budget, purchasing, and personnel management.

Special Response Team (SRT)

Copeland has been a member of the Washington County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team (SRT) since its inception in 2012. He has served as:

• SRT Team Leader
• Operator
• Hostage Negotiator

Personal Interests

In his spare time, Undersheriff Copeland enjoys camping and spending time with his family, often traveling to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado.