Roll of Honor
William Pressley Cooper
Incident
Corporal Bill Cooper was shot and killed 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.
On November 29, 2016, the suspect, 34, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole.
Corporal Cooper was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office for 19 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-D4566069- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Corporal Cooper gave the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Smith community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Pressley Cooper served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Corporal William Pressley Cooper is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Sebastian County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Pressley Cooper's cause is highlighted.
How William Pressley Cooper Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Pressley Cooper is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Pressley Cooper was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Sebastian County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
