With over 20 years of experience as an instructor in both law enforcement and the private sector, Lt. Thompson continues to educate agencies across the nation. As a GA POST Certified instructor, he teaches courses on Cryptocurrency, Financial Crimes, Open-Source Investigations, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Law, Interviewing, Criminal Finance, and Report Writing. He has trained officers across the country, including those at HIDTAs and the NYPD Counterterrorism Division.
Early in his career, Thompson served as a County Commissioner in Jackson County, Georgia, where he championed the modernization of technology, updating GIS mapping and codifying the Unified Development Code. He was also a frequent keynote speaker on community leadership, youth engagement, and scam prevention for seniors.
Retired Lieutenant Jody Thompson served 16 years with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, where he built a reputation as one of North Georgia’s leading experts in financial and property crimes. He collaborated on complex investigations with the IRS, FBI, and other agencies, including a high-profile case involving the seizure of $3.6 billion in Bitcoin, featured on CNBC. For his work, he received multiple commendations from the IRS for exceptional interviewing skills.
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In his final assignment as Public Information Officer, Lt. Thompson led recruitment and social media initiatives that boosted department hiring by more than 50% and strengthened public trust through transparency.
Following his retirement, Lt. Thompson is now applying his profound skill set at JusticeONE® as a technical trainer, helping law enforcement and courts implement cutting-edge records management systems. You can also find Lt. Thompson teaching leadership development, public information, and marketing strategies to support recruitment and community connection—drawing from two decades of government and law enforcement leadership.
