ASHTABULUA COUNTY — A sheriff’s office is mourning the death of one of its deputies who served as a school resource officer in Northern Ohio.
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Ashtabula County Sheriff William Niemi said in a social media post on Saturday that Deputy Joe Cooper passed away.
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Deputy Cooper was also the Pymatuning School District Resource Officer.
“Joe was a wonderful man who loved his students and his community. Please pray for his family as they are in our hearts and prayers,” said Sheriff Niemi.
Christopher Edison, Pymatuning School Superintendent, said that Cooper was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He intended to return after the Christmas break.
“Deputy Cooper absolutely loved our community, and most importantly, our kids,” he said in a social media post. “In our final conversation, his only two concerns were his own family and his Laker family.”
The City of Geneva also paid tribute to Cooper on social media.
“Joe Cooper served Geneva and Ashtabula County faithfully for over 38 years,” the city said. “He had recently retired from the Geneva Police Department, but he continued his service with the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a school resource officer for the Pymatuning Valley School District.”
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