Chris Cooper is the Commander of the Lexington Police Department’s Training Section. After being hired by the Lexington Police Department in 2004, Chris has worked in several capacities, beginning as a patrol officer in the city’s West Sector. From there, it was on to the Bureau of Special Operations, where he served as an officer in the CLEAR unit, and then to Investigations as a narcotics detective. In 2014, Chris was promoted to the rank of sergeant and, in his first year as a supervisor, went from patrol to the bike unit and ultimately landed in the homicide unit, spending nearly the next six years there. Chris was promoted to lieutenant in 2020, returning to patrol for a year and then to the LPD Training Section for two more. 

Chris has been a certified law enforcement instructor since 2016 and actively teaches recruit classes and in-service and hosts the department’s management/leadership academies. Chris also successfully completed the FBI/LEEDA Command Leadership Institute and hopes to attend the remaining two courses to earn the trilogy. 

Over the course of his career, Chris has been recognized by receiving Supervisor of the Year, a Professional Service Award, a Distinguished Service award, five-unit citations, and several letters of appreciation from within and outside of his department. 

Originally from southern Ohio, Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and kinesiology from Morehead State University.

Commander Cooper serves on the Curriculum Committee.

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