JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A former officer of the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) has admitted guilt to charges of official misconduct and tampering with governmental documents.
Connor Cooper faced indictment in 2025 on two counts of official misconduct along with a charge for tampering with governmental records. This stemmed from an April 2024 chase during which he allegedly deactivated both his cruiser’s camera and his body-worn camera.
On Monday, Cooper acknowledged his guilt regarding the charges of official misconduct and document tampering, resulting in the dismissal of one of the misconduct charges.
The court granted Cooper judicial diversion, requiring him to undergo one year of supervised probation.
“In this state, certain defendants, in certain circumstances, i.e., number one never have, having been granted diversion in the past or a never having been convicted of a disqualifying felony or misdemeanor,” said First Judicial District Judge Stacy Street, “or certain offenses which these, these, do apply, you are allowed to enter a plea under judicial diversion.”
Cooper must also serve 40 hours of community service and complete a 12-week basic police academy before he can apply for recertification to become an officer again.
Cooper was granted judicial diversion, which means if he meets all the set terms, the conviction can be erased.
“If you do everything you’re supposed to do during that period of time, you go see your probation officer and comply with all special conditions and all things, and most importantly, you don’t get any from trouble at the end of your diversionary period in your case, which is one year, you can apply with the clerk’s office for an order of expungement erasing this from your record,” Street said.
After the hearing, Cooper’s lawyers left the courtroom before News Channel 11 could ask them for a comment.
Soon after the alleged incident in 2024, Johnson City Police placed Cooper on administrative leave after they discovered that conduct was “inconsistent with department policy.” Cooper resigned from JCPD in June 2024.
The department provided the results of their investigation to the first judicial district attorney general and recommended that the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) decertify Cooper. He was indicted last year.
Cooper was hired by the Washington County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office in July 2024 — shortly after his resignation from JCPD. He was placed on administrative leave in July of last year following his indictment.
Sheriff Keith Sexton said last year he planned to reinstate Cooper if he was acquitted or the charges against him were dismissed.
News Channel 11 reached out to the sheriff’s office on cooper’s status. The sheriff’s office said, “We do not comment on personnel decisions. However, he is not currently an employee of the sheriff’s office.”