Captain Jesse James Cofer was born in Forsyth County in 1864 and spent his entire life in the county.
He was appointed a patrolman with the police force in 1890 and served in that capacity most of the time until 1910 when he was promoted to sergeant. He worked briefly as a deputy sheriff, then returned to the police force. From 1919 to 1935 he rose in rank from assistant chief, to captain (a new rank), then again to assistant chief, from which position he retired in January 1937. At that time, he had spent 47 years in law enforcement.
Cofer was severely injured twice in the line of duty. He received special recognition in 1934 for having the longest service record among the 400 attendees at a meeting of the Association of Law Enforcement Officers of the Carolinas.
He died in April 1937.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
