Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Cooper and Sergeant James Wouters were shot and killed while participating in a drug raid at a mobile home at Midway and Christianson Roads in White City. At 9:40 pm, Lieutenant Cooper, Sergeant Wouters, and a third officer entered the front of the home, identifying themselves as police officers. Once inside, there was a barrage of gunfire. The other officers on the scene called for backup and went to the house's perimeter. K9s entered the home, and two officers entered after them to retrieve the fallen officers. One of the suspects fled during the gunfire and was never charged. The shooter was shot and killed during the gunfire. The third suspect confessed to the drug deal but received 20 years in prison for both murder charges and 15 years for drug charges to be served concurrently. Lieutenant Cooper succumbs to his wounds before midnight. Sergeant Wouters underwent surgery but died the following afternoon. The third officer was wounded but survived. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. Lieutenant Cooper was posthumously promoted. On January 12, 2012, exactly twenty-five years after Lieutenant Grover C. Cooper III and Sergeant James A. Wouters were slain, the Fort Pierce Police Department Main Station was dedicated in their honor and officially renamed the Grover C. Cooper III, James A. Wouters Main Police Station.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-B3F2FC5B- 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.
Lieutenant Cooper gave the Fort Pierce Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Pierce community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Cooper.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Grover Clifton Cooper, III 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Fort Pierce Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Grover Clifton Cooper, III's cause is highlighted.
How Grover Clifton Cooper, III Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed, 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Grover Clifton Cooper, III is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Grover Clifton Cooper, III was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Fort Pierce Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
