Patrolman

Samuel Cooper

South Bend Police Department — South Bend, IN
Felonious
End of Watch November 1, 1900
Age 41
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 4 mo
The Vigil Panel 16 ›
Gender Male

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

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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

Type Other
Location South Bend, IN
Platform Identity sbpd.stjoseph.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 1, 1900
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 4 mo
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Samuel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1900, 86 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 74th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 41. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Samuel had served 2.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

South Bend Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman Samuel Cooper

South Bend Police Department · End of Watch November 1, 1900

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W

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