The Rutherford County Correctional Work Center Board and Mayor Ernest Burgess join in welcoming William "Bill" Cope as the agency's newly, appointed Superintendent of the Correctional Work Center. In announcing to department staff the assignment of Superintendent Cope, Mayor Burgess expressed his appreciation in having a Director with Cope's credentials and correctional management experience. In his role, Superintendent Cope will be responsible for supervising all personnel to ensuring public safety, the well-being of the inmates, and the safe and efficient functioning of the facility.
Superintendent Cope has extensive administrative corrections experience with proven leadership in the management, supervision and treatment of adult offenders. He has been instrumental in the implementation and overseeing of educational, evidence based and rehabilitation programs for inmates at both the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and Rutherford County Correctional Work Center for nearly two decades.
-Graduate of both the Tennessee Corrections Institute and Tennessee Corrections Academy.
-American Correctional Association certified Auditor/Inspector.
-Tennessee Corrections Institute Certified Instructor
-Graduate of The National Institute of Corrections Jail Administration program.
Cope has served and volunteered in multiple capacities throughout his career including: The Mayor's task force to end chronic homelessness, mental health collaborations, Adult/Juvenile Drug/DUI Court review teams and several prisoner reentry collaboratives on local, state and federal levels, served as a correctional liaison between the Sheriff's Office and outside agencies/organizations, conducted speaking engagements throughout the country on subjects such as Rehabilitation, Corrections and Correctional Management.
Cope has successfully navigated the corrections ranks, spanning twenty plus years in four very different facilities. As the Facility Coordinator of the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, he transferred to the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center to serve as the Assistant Superintendent in 2010.
He and his wife Shannon are residents of Rutherford County where they raise their two sons, Tyler and Caleb. Shannon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in working with children. Tyler is a student at Middle Tennessee State University and Bill and Shannon recently finalized their adoption of nine month old Caleb. The Cope's are members of New Vision Baptist Church.
