VANCE NIXON COOPER
Niles City Police Department
March 4, 1937
An unruly passenger aboard a Chicago to Niles Greyhound bus lead Niles Police Chief L.O. Bates and Patrolman Vance Cooper to the location of US 12, 2 ½ miles west of Niles on March 4, 1937. The bus driver had reported that a passenger aboard the bus had threatened him with a knife. While removing the passenger, James Crosby from the bus, Patrolman Cooper handcuffed himself to Crosby and proceeded across the street to his patrol car when both men were struck and killed by an oncoming motorist identified as Roy Hoadley of Three Oaks. Chief Bates escaped without injury; however his partner was killed instantly. Both Cooper and Crosby were struck head-on and carried a great distance down the road. Patrolman Vance Cooper had just celebrated his 29th birthday the week before.
Vance Cooper was born on February 28, 1908 in Cass County, Michigan and was laid to rest in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Michigan. He left a wife Maxine who he had been married to since 1929.
--Chriss Lyon
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