Justin Hopson served as a New Jersey State Trooper before retiring in 2007.
As a trooper, Justin Hopson investigated fatal accidents, domestic violence incidents, sexual assaults, child abuse, missing persons, homicides, suicides, narcotics, and drunk driving cases. Most notably, he spearheaded the 1979 cold case investigation of Karen Zendrosky, a missing teenager who was allegedly murdered and never found. Mr. Hopson coordinated federal, state, and municipal agencies such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and NecroSearch International to assist by searching for the victim's remains. As a result of moving the aforementioned case forward, he received multiple commendations and was later selected to the State Governmental Security Bureau.
While working in the State Governmental Security Bureau, Justin Hopson provided security for New Jersey's Governor, state property, and state employees within the State Capitol Complex. He was responsible for supervising, evaluating, and training the state's proprietary guard force. He provided protective services to state agencies such as the Department of Health and Agriculture, Department of Labor, and the Department of Education. Mr. Hopson was selected and trained as the NCIC Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) for the State Governmental Security Bureau.
As coordinator, Justin Hopson supervised and monitored state troopers' criminal history checks and NCIC 2000 inquiries. He was responsible for tracking sex offenders, missing persons, stolen guns, and wanted persons. He is technically sound in both the Amber Alert program and the LiveScan fingerprint system.
Justin Hopson holds a Master of Arts degree in management and has a high degree of professional training. Training such as gang awareness, management evaluation, and critical first response has honed his proficiency. Mr. Hopson has been certified as a State Police Instructor and American Heart Association Healthcare Provider.
As a New Jersey State Trooper, Justin Hopson diligently exposed government and police corruption. His efforts to reform government have been supported by the likes of Senator John Adler, Dr. Susan Lipkins, Frank Serpico, and the National Whistleblower Center. ABC News, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Star-Ledger, and other media outlets have interviewed Mr. Hopson about police reform. Justin Hopson has successfully testified in federal, state, and municipal court proceedings.
After retiring Mr. Hopson founded Hopson Investigations, a state licensed private investigative firm based in Charleston, SC. In 2009, Justin Hopson was appointed to the Charleston County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Board. In 2010, he became a member of the South Carolina Association of Legal Investigators. These days, Justin enjoys the slow pace, sweet tea, and steepled skyline of his favorite city ~ Charleston, South Carolina.
