Herb Cooley

A legendary figure in Virginia and North Carolina law enforcement for the past fifty years, Herb Cooley has achieved the highest laurels awarded to a police officer. A native of rural Grayson County, he enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard and went to work for the High Point Police Department, where he was a patrolmen, motorcycle cop and detective in the thick of the Civil Rights group when such notoriously dangerous groups as the Black Panthers moved through town. Herb also maintained a clean record as an officer at a time when his police department was under tremendous scrutiny. He eventually moved to the Office of the Public Defender, solving high profile cases for the state of North Carolina. Herb earned his Master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration and graduating from the prestigious FBI National Academy. He was selected as Chief Deputy of the Wythe County Sheriff's Office in Virginia where, for the next fourteen years, he and his longtime friend, Sheriff Wayne Pike, rebuilt the entire department by creating countless drug and traffic safety programs that are still saving lives today. Working on countless civic committees and even serving as President of the local Chamber of Commerce, Herb made an unsuccessful bid for Wythe County Clerk of Court in 1991. In 1994, Herb achieved the rank of Chief of Police in Pulaski, Virginia, where he instituted everything from new drug laws to even a revamping of the patrol car design. Herb completed his career as Chief of Police in Vinton, Virginia, where he turned a virtually disgraced department into one of the few fully accredited agencies in the state. Retiring after 45 years, Herb has lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Fancy Gap, Virginia, where he has enjoyed spending time with family in the coast and mountains. In this unprecedented look into his legacy, including nearly 80 rare photos, Herb's impressive story is told by the most unique of authors: his son, longtime journalist, Zach Cooley, who endeavored to discover his father as he never knew him before: a legendary officer who has dedicated his life to protecting others.