COVINGTON, Ga. — Covington police shared two pieces of heartwarming news Thursday: Injured officer Matt Cooper is continuing to make progress in his recovery, and one very cute trick-or-treater is his biggest fan.
Channel 2's Rikki Klaus in Covington, where she got an update on the injured officer and met his young fan, Max Smith, who dressed as his hero and paid the department a visit.
Covington police Capt. Ken Malcom said Cooper, 34, is communicating and exceeding doctors' expectations. Cooper has been at Shepherd Center recovering since being shot in the line of duty in September.
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"We’re so encouraged by his progress. He gets a little better every day, and we just ask everybody continue to pray for him," Malcom said.
Malcom says he has sat down and had conversations with Cooper, who was shot while responding to a robbery at a Walmart.
"He’s still got his sense of humor. He knows he has a long road ahead of him," Malcom said. "He’s a fighter, and he’s told us he’s going to continue fighting to get better.”
Also celebrating Cooper's continued recovery? 4-year-old Max Smith, who dressed up as the officer for Halloween.
On Thursday, Malcom invited Max and his mother, Jennifer Smith, to come to the department.
Seventeen of Cooper's brothers-in-arms applauded Max for his touching tribute to Cooper.
"It's just a wonderful feeling to see that his hero is a real-life hero too," Jennifer Smith said.
Klaus asked Max why he wanted to dress up as Cooper. The answer was simple.
"Because he's brave and strong," Max said.
Cooper's patrol car is set aside at the Covington Police Department, so Max was able to take a ride in his hero's car. He also took home a couple of police patches.