About the Authors
Kevin Coppin
Kevin Coppin has over 35 years of law enforcement experience, with a particular emphasis on complex and comprehensive investigations within the Palm Beach County, Florida region. Throughout his career, he has undertaken various roles, including Crime Gun Intelligence Center Coordinator for the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office, Detective at the Juno Beach, Florida, Police Department, and Officer with both the Palm Beach Shores, Florida, Police Department and the North Palm Beach, Florida, Police Department. Most recently, Mr. Coppin served as Deputy Chief of the Riviera Beach, Florida, Police Department.
In his capacity as a Captain with the West Palm Beach. Florida, Police Department, Mr. Coppin was a proponent of the intelligence-led policing philosophy, which prioritizes accountability among supervisors and the development of crime reduction initiatives. His strategies included the use of CompStat and Crime View Web for real-time crime analysis, management of projects such as the City Traffic Safety Red Light Camera Program, and the adoption of License Plate Reader technology. These initiatives notably contributed to a substantial rise in the recovery of stolen tags and vehicles, as well as the apprehension of suspects and the seizure of weapons.
Mr. Coppin's professional qualifications are noteworthy, including certifications from the Southern District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office, designating him as an expert witness in matters on organized street gangs and crack cocaine investigations. He has been recognized as Officer of the Year by both the West Palm Beach, Florida, Police Department and the Juno Beach, Florida, Police Department. In addition to his law enforcement accomplishments, Mr. Coppin holds a Juris Doctorate from the Saint Thomas School of Law.
Dr. Jessica Huff
Dr. Jessica Huff is an Assistant Professor at the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on policing and program evaluation, with an emphasis on using experimental methods to examine the effectiveness and fairness of police policies and practices. Dr. Huff is a National Institute of Justice LEADS Academic who has partnered with police agencies across the U.S. to evaluate violence reduction strategies, police training, and police technology. She is currently collaborating with the Tacoma, Washington, Police Department to examine the impact of gun crime investigation technologies. She formerly served as a research partner on an evaluation of the Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center. Dr. Huff’s work has been funded by the Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. She serves as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee and was the recipient of the inaugural Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Police Section Emerging Policing Scholar Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to the policing field.
Jessica Davis
Jessica Davis has worked for Phoenix Police Department for 23 years and is the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit/NIBIN Supervisor for the Phoenix CGIC. She has been working with the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit since 2010. She is a subject matter expert in Crime Gun Intelligence with extensive experience in program implementation, organization, and policy writing; identifying challenges police departments face in the investigation of gun crimes and establishing sustainable, long-term solutions. Her experience includes, but is not limited to, writing and applying for competitive grants along with the creation of data and program related performance metrics. She has extensive experience in training, public speaking and has assisted numerous law enforcements agencies in developing proactive, sustainable programs within their cities. In addition to her role at Phoenix PD, she is a Subject Matter Expert with the National Policing Institute and spent two years with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research working with the Non-Fatal Shooting Review Team. She holds a B.S. in Justice Studies from Arizona State University.
Alan Hughes
Alan Hughes joined NPI in September 2021 and currently serves as a Program Manager overseeing the NRTAC and CGIC TTA programs. Since joining NPI, Alan has had the opportunity to assist over 50 agencies in implementing the CGIC model in their jurisdictions and has visited over 25 CGICs throughout the nation. Alan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology, Law, & Society with a minor in Intelligence Studies from George Mason University. Before joining NPI, Alan worked as a Paralegal for a McLean, Virigina, law firm.
Sarah Verin
Sarah Verin joined NPI in January 2021 as a Project Associate with the Training and Technical Assistance Division. Currently, Mrs. Verin works on the NRTAC and CGIC TTA program, assisting agencies in implementing the CGIC models within their jurisdictions. Additionally, she works on the COPS Office Law Enforcement Accreditation program, providing resources to agencies seeking accreditation. Since joining NPI, Mrs. Verin has also worked on the training and technical assistance project, CS360, with law enforcement departments across the United States with the goal of enhancing officer safety and wellness and police-community relations through data-driven strategies. Before joining NPI, she worked as an analyst at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), focusing on internet crimes against children, including online enticement and child sexual abuse material. At NCMEC, Mrs. Verin worked with law enforcement, survivors, and electronic service providers to remove images from various webpages being hosted all over the globe and assisted law enforcement in relevant investigations. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Forensic and Legal Psychology from Marymount University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Administration of Justice from the University of Pittsburgh.