Cop shot in the head was rushed to surgery — a few hours later, he mouthed 3 emotional words to his wife that stunned nurse
When a person is in a serious condition and hospitalized, each action is closely monitored. There is not much they can do or say, given their condition so if they do say something, it is of importance and value. The Covington Police Department revealed that one of their best, Officer Matt Cooper, was shot in the line of duty and hospitalized in September 2018, per The Covington News. During his strenuous journey to recovery, he mouthed 3 words to his wife, Kristen, with all the strength he had. The man’s trouble to speak out those words after a serious surgery left the nurse stunned.
The department mentioned that the 6-year veteran of Covington Police and military veteran was shot in the line of duty. This happened “following an incident that started at Wal-Mart and ended up near the Little Phillies restaurant,” the post read. The officer was airlifted to Grady Hospital. Being shot in the head, he was in a serious condition. The department requested prayers and best wishes for Matt and his family. After some time, the department provided an update on the officer’s condition. They wrote, “Matt is still in serious condition with the bullet lodged against his carotid artery.”
The officer also had to undergo surgery to relieve pressure from swelling in the brain, per 11 Alive. The procedure was successful and Cooper slowly began to recover. During the crucial time, when his state was still critical, the officer mouthed 3 words to his wife. “We were just informed that he mouthed the words ‘I love you’ to his wife, who has not left his side,” the post explained. It might have been confusing to see the officer try to speak after having had serious surgery. “The nurse asked him, ‘Did you just tell her I love you?’” the post read. The officer tried his best to "nod yes."
"His wife is obviously concerned but when he spoke to her this morning, I think that uplifted her," Covington Chief of Police Stacey Cotton explained in an update. The chief continued to mention that Cooper is a warrior, saying, "And probably if anyone is prepared to struggle and fight through this type of injury, Matt Cooper is your man.” With support from family, friends, fellow officers and others, the Covington Police Department was glad to announce in December 2018 that Officer Cooper had recovered enough to go home. The C.P.D. is proud to announce that after 107 days, our hero, Officer Matt Cooper, is finally home! Thank you, Officer Matt Cooper, for showing us all what courage really is,” the update read.
The officer spent a few months in recovery before making the firm decision to go back to work in 2020. “I think they offered me the opportunity to come back and work on a volunteer status because I wanted to come back and have a purpose. Seeing the guys do the same job that I was doing but I couldn’t physically or mentally do anymore, it kind of took a toll on my headspace. It was on my terms and I was at peace with it,” he explained. After a few more years with the department, Cooper announced his retirement in 2023. “When I was policing, I’d take care of everybody else’s families. Now, I can actually work on taking care of my own family,” Cooper said.