John was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, and graduated from Carver High School in 1992. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Kim Blackmon, and they have 3 children: John Austin (Abby daughter-in-law), Ella Grace, and Eli Martin. He joined the Montgomery Police Department in 1994 to serve the citizens of Montgomery. At MPD he served in many capacities including patrolman, detective, and Chief of Staff. He also enjoys serving as a marriage life group leader and in the children’s area at Journey Church in Prattville, Alabama. He retired from the Montgomery Police Department on January 1, 2020, after serving the citizens of Montgomery for close to 26 years, and began his work with Hope Inspired Ministries as the Executive Director on January 2, 2020.
Email: jbowman@hopeinspiredministries.org | Phone: 334-850-7912
Captain Phipps started his law enforcement career with Talladega Police Department in 2007. He came to the Oxford Police Department in 2010. He is a graduate of the Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy 142nd Session. During his service with the Oxford Police Department, Captain Phipps served as a Patrolman, Investigator, Sergeant, and Lieutenant before being promoted to Captain in 2023.
Captain Phipps has been certified by P.O.S.T. as a Tier 1 Investigator and by ALEA as a Traffic Homicide Investigator. He is an Axon Taser Instructor and a Strategic Self-Defense and Gunfighting Tactics (SSGT) Instructor. As the Uniformed Division’s Captain, he oversees the department’s Patrol Operations and other specialized units.
Captain Phipps also serves in the Alabama Air National Guard as a Master Sergeant with the 187th Security Forces Squadron. Captain Phipps started his military career with the Army Reserves in 2005.
Captain Phipps holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Jacksonville State University, a Masters in Criminal Justice Administration from Faulkner University, and a graduate certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia. He is also a graduate of the 285th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
