Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Samuel Cooper succumbed to an infection from a gunshot wound suffered one week earlier when he was attempting to arrest an armed robbery suspect at 2:00 a.m. While on patrol, Patrolman Cooper witnessed a subject exiting a closed saloon at 329 South Michigan Street. As he tried to apprehend the subject, the man fired and struck him in the hip. He returned fire, and despite striking the subject, he got away. Another officer arrested the subject a few blocks away when he noticed him covered in blood. The suspect was convicted of Patrolman Cooper's murder and sentenced to life in prison on June 21, 1901. He was paroled in 1911. Patrolman Cooper had served with the South Bend Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-50DED3D3- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Cooper gave the South Bend Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the South Bend community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cooper.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Samuel Cooper is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At South Bend Police Department, 11 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Cooper's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Cooper Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Cooper is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Cooper was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from South Bend Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
