[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 100 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF GREG COOPER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 7, 2011

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on May 26, 2011, Greg 
Cooper lost his battle with cancer at his home in Tustin, Orange 
County, California.
  Born on June 23, 1945, Greg Cooper proudly served as a United States 
Marine Corps Sergeant from 1963 to 1967. His commendable service 
included a tour of duty near the city of DaNang, in the Republic of 
Vietnam.
  Upon his departure with the Marines, Greg worked with the Santa Ana 
Police Department where he held several high-profile management and 
tactical unit positions. Among these positions, Greg was the SWAT 
Commander for 10 years and was active in the original development and 
transition from traditional to community oriented policing (COP). This 
COP policing model has been successfully duplicated across the United 
States for decades.
  While serving as a police officer with the Santa Ana Police 
Department, Greg earned a Police Science Degree from Santa Ana College, 
a Bachelors degree from California State University-Fullerton and a 
Masters degree from the University of Southern California.
  Leaving the Santa Ana Police Department in 1992, Greg was appointed 
Chief of Police in Sanger, California. In 1996 he relocated to 
Washington, DC after accepting a position with the Department of 
Justice (DOJ) ``COPS'' Program. At the DOJ, Greg would be the Assistant 
Director, responsible for monitoring operations for more than 30,000 
Federal grants to more than 13,000 State and local law enforcement 
agencies.
  In 2002, Greg joined the newly formed Department of Homeland Security 
as FEMA's Director of Security/Chief Security Officer. He would later 
retire from this position in 2008. At FEMA, Greg had oversight for all 
FEMA facilities, disaster operations, information security, personnel 
security and all national security clearances.
  Since retiring from government service, Greg, a highly regarded and 
well-known expert in several specialty fields, continued to serve as a 
consultant to numerous law enforcement agencies across the nation.
  A grateful nation mourns the loss of a loyal friend, a respected 
leader and a dedicated public servant.

                          ____________________