Retired Lieutenant Jody Thompson worked with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department for 16 years. He has been an instructor in law enforcement and the private sector for over 20 years. Since retiring, Thompson has worked as a technical trainer for JusticeONE®, delivering excellence in records management software to law enforcement agencies and courts.
Lt. Thompson is regarded as one of the foremost authorities on financial, cyber, and property crimes in North Georgia. He has worked on complex financial and organized crime cases with the IRS, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies. One prominent case involved the seizure of $3.6 billion in Bitcoin, which was featured on CNBC. Thompson received numerous commendations from the IRS for his investigative interviewing skills.
Before working in law enforcement, Thompson served as a County Commissioner in Jackson County, Georgia. There, he was involved in significant policy changes and the integration of technology into the county government, modernizing the future land-use map with GIS and codifying the Unified Development Code. Thompson has spoken as a keynote speaker for numerous organizations and schools during his four-year term. Today, he often talks to community members about youth leadership, senior citizen scams, and motivational topics.
As a law enforcement instructor (GA POST Certified), Lt. Thompson leads classes on Cryptocurrency, Financial Crime, Open-Source Investigations, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Law, Interviews, Criminal/Terrorism Finance, NIBRS, and Advanced Report Writing.
Utilizing over 20 years of government leadership, Thompson also leads classes on Public Information, Transparency, Marketing & Recruitment, and Leadership Development. He has facilitated strategic planning in both the public and private sectors, assisting leaders in setting smart goals and driving long-term community enrichment.
