From the Fort Smith Fraternal order of Police:
“Please take a moment and remember Sebastian County Sheriff’s Deputy,
Corporal Bill Cooper who was murdered in the line of duty on August
10th, 2016. Corporal Cooper answered his final call after he and
several other officers responded to a domestic violence call involving
an armed subject at a home on the 4700 block of Highway 253.
The subject opened fire on responding officers with a rifle, fatally
wounding Corporal Cooper and wounding the Hackett Police Department’s
chief, and pinning down multiple other officers. Corporal Cooper was
transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The
subject surrendered and was taken into custody a short time later.
A police canine from the Greenwood Police Department was also shot
during the incident when the suspect shot into the patrol car she was
in. Her handler released the door lock to allow her to get out of the
line of fire and she ran off, but she was found two days later
suffering from two gunshot wounds.
Corporal Cooper was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with
the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years. He is survived by
his wife and son. Rest in peace brother.”
