Sergeant William Cooper was shot dead by Stanley Graham in 1941. The Police Long Service and Good Conduct medal awarded to him has been secured by the New Zealand Police Museum situated at The Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC), Porirua.
The medal was offered to the museum in August by retired inspector and collector Joe Franklin and the museum was delighted to be able to purchase it with help from the Police Association. Mr Franklin said his advancing years have made him realise the medal should be in the Police Museum and he is pleased the medal is to be housed there.
President of the Police Association Greg O'Connor will hand the medal over to museum staff at 2.00pm on Monday 29 September at the New Zealand Police Museum following the annual NZ Australian and South Pacific Region Police Remembrance Day service at the RNZPC.
Media and the public are welcome to attend.
The Museum will be open from 10am - 4pm for all visitors, free of charge.
Sergeant Cooper
Sergeant Cooper was a liked and well-respected supervisor. The Museum also has the mantel clock gifted to him by his colleagues in Dunedin as a farewell present just months before he was shot and killed. The valuable and beautiful gift is a poignant testimony to the high regard he was held in by his colleagues and his community and is a tragic reminder of how quickly the lives of Police officers and their families can change in one instant.
The New Zealand Police Museum is proud to acknowledge the good service that Sergeant Cooper provided Police and the sacrifice he made to keep his community safe. We are especially glad to honour him on Remembrance Day.
For more information please use the New Zealand Police Museum Website: www.police.govt.nz/service/museum or telephone 04 238 3141