Jasper Now Has Motorcycle Officer

You may have seen something new to Jasper County in recent weeks…we at The News office did, so we contacted Sheriff Donnie Pope and confirmed what we had seen—a motorcycle officer—then decided to sit down and talk with Officer J.T. Wood.

Officer Wood joined the Jasper County Sheriff’s office last October, on a part time basis, after Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Captain Billy Bryant learned of his background and recruited him. Captain Bryant talked with Officer Wood at Backwoods Nutrition, a business Mr. Wood opened in Monticello last June. He learned that Mr. Wood had 23 years’ experience as a police officer, having retired from Duluth Police Department in August of 2020. He also retired from the Gwinnett County Fire Department in September of 2020.

Officer Wood was a motor officer for 15 years before retirement. While there, he worked with the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, bringing lots of experience with him to Jasper County where is now working as a motor officer for the JCSO. He does whatever he is called on to do, which includes a good bit of traffic work. Officer Wood owns the 2009 Harley Davidson Road King that he drives, and contracts with the county to use it. He is paid hourly for his work.

One of his duties that he takes seriously is funeral and other escorts…one of which he did Tuesday morning in Gwinnett. He said there are about seven bikers who work part time for Barry Escort Company, and two or three work every funeral.

Officer Wood, and his wife, Traci, still live in Gwinnett County, but are hoping to relocate to Jasper County in the near future. He said the commute is getting tiring. A 1987 graduate of North Gwinnett High School, Officer Wood began his firefighting career in 1989 with the Gwinnett County Fire Department. He and his bride of 27 years have a son, Jay Wood, who is in aviation school in Cochran.