Oconto County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin
End of Watch: Sunday, July 26, 1964
Age: 59
Tour of Duty: 5 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: July 26, 1964
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Two years
Sheriff Edward Coopman suffered a fatal heart attack while attempting to arrest a suspect who was creating a disturbance at Kunzer's Beach Resort in Oak Orchard.
When Sheriff Coopman asked the subjects to quiet down, a scuffle ensued. Sheriff Coopman collapsed and could not be revived. He died at the scene at 2:30 a.m.
The subject was arrested and charged with resisting an officer and disorderly conduct. He pleaded guilty in conjunction with charges of homicide by negligent operation of a car from a previous incident and was sentenced to two years. He received additional time for escaping from a work farm.
Sheriff Coopman had served as sheriff with the Oconto County Sheriff's Department for over five years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.