Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Vance Cooper was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing the street. Patrolman Cooper was assisting Niles Police Chief Bates with an unruly passenger aboard a Greyhound bus en route from Chicago to Niles. While removing the suspect from the stopped bus, Patrolman Cooper handcuffed himself to the suspect and was walking him across the road when they were both struck by an oncoming vehicle. Patrolman Cooper had served with the Niles Police Department for five years and was survived by his wife and son. He is buried in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Michigan.
Survivors
Patrolman Cooper had served with the Niles Police Department for five years and was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-9529FB6B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Cooper gave the Niles City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Niles 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 Vance Cooper is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 229 of 718 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 0.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Niles City Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vance Cooper's cause is highlighted.
How Vance Cooper Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Vance Cooper is highlighted in Mar.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Niles City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
