Pictured, the jail roster photo of Brian Keith Cooper, Jr.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE MAY 5, 2025, 7:21pm
CORRECTION MAY 6, 2025, 10:20am
MySaline is issuing a correction to this article. It originally stated that the City of Haskell and and the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA) made a joint statement on Monday May 5, 2025. That is not correct. ALETA did not issue a statement Monday.
The City of Haskell did issue a statement on Monday, regarding dealings with the suspect, Mr. Cooper, from 2019-2021. The attached letter from ALETA was issued in 2022 and is signed by the Director at the time. Arkansas State Police is still investigating and therefore neither they, nor ALETA would have made a statement regarding the case.
The City of Haskell issued a statement on Monday, May 5, 2025, emphasizing disaffiliation with a rape suspect who was recently arrested. The suspect, Brian Keith Cooper, Jr., was formerly employed in law enforcement at the City of Haskell. He is also known to have been a firefighter at Turtle Creek Fire Department recently.
Read the full documents and bond update below.
Cooper was arrested by the Arkansas State Police. He is charged with Rape, Sexually Grooming of a Child, 2 counts of Sexual Assault, and 22 counts of Child Sexual Abuse Materials. On Friday, May 2nd, he was booked in the Saline County Detention Center. After a weekend stay, a judge on Monday set Cooper’s bond at $300,000. As of this writing, Cooper is still detained. (as of May 6, 2025, 9:30am)
Cooper was formerly a member of law enforcement at the City of Haskell. On Monday afternoon, Haskell Mayor Clyde Crookham released a statement of disaffiliation with Cooper, along with a letter from ALETA from 2022, verifying decertification for law enforcement. This means Mr. Cooper will not be able to serve in law enforcement in Arkansas.
Read the two full documents below.
Pictured above is a statement from Mayor Crookham, to the public. Click image to enlarge.
Statement from City of Haskell Mayor to Public, issued in 2025:
Date: May 5, 2025
Subject: Employment and Decertification Summary – Brian Keith Cooper Jr.
To Whom It May Concern,
This letter serves as an official summary regarding the employment and subsequent decertification of Brian Keith Cooper Jr.
Mr. Cooper was employed with the Haskell beginning October 1, 2019. He tendered his resignation on July 16, 2021 after allegations of misconduct.
Following a City Council meeting held on August 9, 2021, Mr. Best addressed the council on behalf of his daughter and presented evidence implicating Mr. Cooper in misconduct involving underage females. As a result, the City Council voted unanimously to pursue decertification of Mr. Cooper due to actions deemed unbecoming of a law enforcement officer.
In response, Chief Watson initiated the decertification process. On May 12, 2022, the Commission formally voted to decertify Mr. Cooper. Confirmation of the decertification was received by Chief Jeff Ramsey on May 18, 2022, via official correspondence from the Standards Commission.
Should you require further information or documentation regarding this matter, please contact our office directly.
Sincerely,
Clyde Crookham
Mayor, City of Haskell
Pictured above is a letter from ALETA to Haskell PD in 2022. Click image to enlarge.
Letter from ALETA to Haskell Police Department issued in 2022:
Date: May 18, 2022
In the Matter of Brian Cooper, Jr.
Chief Ramsey:
This letter is to inform you of the action taken by the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training at its meeting on May 12, 2022, regarding your request for decertification of former officer Brian Cooper, Jr. After reviewing the evidence presented, the Commission voted to decertify Brian Cooper, Jr. Mr. Cooper is no longer eligible to serve as a law enforcement officer in the State of Arkansas.
Sincerely,
Jami Cook, Director
Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training
MySaline will update this story as more information becomes available.
This article was updated
for a correction on
May 6, 2025 at 10:20am.
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