COOPER, Brent F.

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Wednesday, October 12, 2011 Funeral services have been set for Flagstaff Chief of Police Brent F. Cooper. According to the police department, public viewing will be Thursday at 6 p.m. at Norvel Owens Mortuary, 914 E. Route 66. A procession will leave the mortuary at 9 a.m. Friday and travel to the funeral services, which begin at 11 a.m. at the Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park. The procession will travel west on Route 66 past City Hall, south on Milton Road to Interstate 17 to the exit at Pulliam Drive and the entrance to the park. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. A reception will follow at 2:30 p.m. back at the amphitheater. The family requests that those who wish to attend wear Hawaiian shirts in celebration of Chief Cooper's life. According to the National Weather Service, the skies in Flagstaff are expected to be sunny Friday, with a high temperature of 75 degrees. DEGREES FROM NAU Cooper, 57, died unexpectedly from an apparent medical condition Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, while on a morning run with his dog. He was born Dec. 7, 1954, in Florence, to Joe and Anne Cooper. He grew up in Florence before coming to Flagstaff to attend Northern Arizona University. At NAU, he received bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice. Chief Cooper is also a graduate of the 182nd session of the FBI National Academy and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Program. During his 33 years with the Flagstaff Police Department, Cooper was a patrol officer, a detective and a member of the tactical operations team (eventually becoming team leader). He was also in charge of the department's firearms training program and was instrumental in creating several new programs for the department, including a conversion to the Glock pistol. The Flagstaff Police Department was the first to do so. ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS Cooper rose through the ranks, making sergeant in 1981, then lieutenant, then deputy chief in charge of the patrol and detective divisions of the police department. He became Flagstaff's police chief in July 2006. For the department, he served as the Silent Witness Program Director; executive board member for Project Safe Neighborhoods for the U.S. Department of Justice; member of the Anti-Terrorist Advisory Council; vice chair of the Coconino County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; member of the local Weed & Seed board; and a member of the Coconino County Juvenile Court Advisory Board. He was also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, the FBI National Academy Association, the International Association of Ethics Trainers, the 100 Club and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. In contributing to his community, Cooper served on several nonprofit boards, including Victim/Witness Services for Coconino County (past president), United Way of Northern Arizona and the YMCA. He was also the recipient of several professional awards, including the Arizona Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award for working with victims of crime; the Flagstaff City Manager's Humphrey Excellence Award for leadership, providing customer service and instilling teamwork within the city; and the Flagstaff Police Department Meritorious Service Award for personal bravery. DONATIONS TO OFFICERS MEMORIAL Cooper is survived by his wife Julie, the love of his life; daughter Leslie; son Brent "B.C."; granddaughter Elise; parents Joe and Anne; brother Cort; sister Pam; niece Courtney; Winston, his faithful companion; and a host of family and friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Brian, and his family takes great comfort in knowing Brian will be there to greet his dad. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to benefit the Fallen Officers Memorial through Citizens Against Substance Abuse at ccso-fpd-fallenofficermemorial.org.