Biggers said a crew with his department was called to a crash at about 8:30 a.m., unaware at the time that they were responding to a call for one of their own.
“We realized who it was on scene. I saw the patch and then I saw his nametag,” said Capt. Tyler Ferrick with South Hunt County Fire-Rescue.
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The patch and nametag were part of the Kaufman police uniform that Cooley was still wearing on his way home from working the night shift.
“Today was a big loss,” said Robert Stagg, assistant chief of South Hunt County Fire-Rescue.
“It was one of those things that you don’t forget. You probably won’t forget,” said Dylan Seabolt with South Hunt County Fire-Rescue.
The Kaufman Police Department has a police cruiser parked outside its headquarters as a tribute to Cooley, who the department said joined the force in May.
“He worked very hard to get where he was,” said Seabolt.
With a passion for public service, the 26-year-old was described as a leader and mentor.
“Being someone close to you, a brother, it’s very different,” said Capt. Kiron Searl, with South Hunt County Fire-Rescue.
But it was his title off duty that Chief Biggers said made Cooley the proudest. He leaves behind a newborn daughter, a wife and a large family of first responders who are feeling a deep sense of loss.
“New father, baby girl, 3 months old,” said Biggers. “Our hearts are hurting, and they’ll be hurting for a while.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
