NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — Injured police officer Matt Cooper is making “slow but steady progress” in his rehabilitation at Shepherd Center, officials said.
Cooper, 34, of Covington, was moved to the center’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program earlier this month from Grady Memorial Hospital. He suffered a gunshot wound to the head in the line of duty Sept. 3.
“He is participating in physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy daily,” according to a post on the Covington police Facebook page.
His treatment team does not know how long he will be at Shepherd Center.
“His family, the doctors, the nurses are very encouraged about his progression. It’s just going to take a long, long time to get back to being Cooper again," said Lt. Chris Smith, with the Covington Police Department.
Under the bright lights of a high school football game, the city of Covington showed its true colors on Thursday night. There was a special ceremony to honor Cooper, and seemingly everyone who knows him turned out to support him.
“This is heartwarming. It’s overwhelming. It doesn’t surprise us, because this (is) Covington," Smith said.
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Cooper, married and a father of two, was shot pursuing a shoplifting suspect from a Walmart on Industrial Boulevard. He was hit between his eyes, and the bullet traveled down to his carotid artery, clotting his blood and saving his life, AJC.com previously reported.
“The family continues to be very appreciative for the outpouring of support from family, friends and the community,” according to the Facebook post, “but has requested privacy at this time.”
A GoFundMe account for Cooper’s medical expenses is available. As of Thursday evening, it has raised over $32,000 of its $40,000 fundraising goal.
Cooper's friends believe a night like this will help their wounded eagle once again fly high.
“Those prayers are touching him. And he’s fighting as hard as any man could," Smith said.
Cox Media Group
