Peoria police detective retires after 33 years

Detective Jim Hopson retired July 31 after 33 years with the Peoria Police Department. 

Hopson was hired March 10, 1975, and served in a variety of capacities, as a patrol officer and field training officer; supervisory roles in patrol and supervised what was then called TOU, Tactical Operations Unit, rifle squad.

He organized and implemented Operation Lightning Bolt, an investigation of motorcycle and prison gang members involved in drug distribution, ID theft and fraud, which also led to solving an MCSO homicide case.

During his career Hopson was active in department training and community education and received numerous unit citations, certificates of appreciation, service excellence awards and certificates of commendation.

Hopson's service to the residents of Peoria will not end, as he remains with the department as a civilian criminal investigator, a non-sworn position assigned to the criminal investigations section.