Corporal Bill Cooper Remembered on House Floor

WASHINGTON – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday (September 7) to remember the life of Bill Cooper, a corporal with the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department who was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 10. Below is the full text of Westerman’s remarks (as prepared):

“In recent months, our nation’s police have come under attack. Last month, the violence against our police hit home as Sebastian County, Arkansas, Sheriff’s Deputy Corporal Bill Cooper was shot and killed responding to a call for help on August 10. In the days and weeks since his untimely death, thousands of Sebastian County residents paid their respects to Deputy Cooper – a Marine Corps veteran – by remembering his dedication to God, his family, the sheriff’s department, and the country he loved. I don’t pretend that my words will fill the void left by his death, but I hope my words can properly honor a man who paid the ultimate price upholding the oath he swore to defend. I thank him for his service and I thank his family for sharing him with the community. Psalm 34:18 says, ‘The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.’ May God bless and comfort Deputy Cooper’s family during this time of grief.”

Westerman joined Congressman Steve Womack (AR-03) in offering tributes to Cooper on Wednesday. Both represent parts of Sebastian County in the U.S. House.