Les Cooper

History[]

Cooper was married and had at least one kid, while working on the force for at least a decade. He talked his fellow Officer Luke Edmunds into helping him perform vigilante justice on the streets. Cooper led Edmunds into believing their actions ensured civilians got proper justice while the criminals truly suffered. However, Cooper was in fact a dirty cop who took bribes from a gangster in order to fund a lavish lifestyle. He chose Edmunds, knowing Edmunds lost his brother to drugs and was easy to turn with his grudge.

At one point, he and Edmunds accosted and shot Wilberto Angel, a known drug dealer that consistently evaded the law. Angel survived the shooting but was left paralyzed and the two framed him for attempted murder by placing a gun on him. As a result, Angel was sent to prison for a trumped attempted murder charge, holding a grudge ever since.

Rotten[]

Cooper was given orders by Ramirez to handle Carlos Torres, a competing drug dealer that he couldn't kill because of a lack of opportunity. As a result, Cooper and Edmunds arrested Torres but before bringing him in, they fatally sodomize Torres with a plunger handle. Once Torres died in his cell, this caused SVU to look into it.

Cooper was investigated by Detective Benson, after it was found that he and his former partner Edmunds were responsible for more deaths that were covered up. Edmunds was later detained, though defended his actions and didn't rat out Cooper. However, her captain defended them and shut down any attempts to investigate them otherwise consequences will be made against Benson. Privately, Cragen ordered Benson continued to suspect them before she and Detective Tutuola they found more incriminating evidence. They interviewed Angel, who positively identified Cooper and Edmunds as his shooters leading to his acquittal and release. Meanwhile, Edmunds learned the truth of Cooper's greed and committed suicide out of shame and disbelief at his actions.

Cooper was arrested in front of his squad, with his rookie officer asserting innocence but being warned to get a lawyer anyway. Cooper was brought in and he was represented by Trevor Langan. He was confronted with the truth about his dealings and the look into his finances. After realizing he was exposed, Cooper called Edmunds a gullible fool for believing his crusade and almost refused A.D.A. Cabot's offer but reconsidered as a dirty cop tag wouldn't have a chance of survival. To avoid the death penalty and get protection, he confessed that he was paid by drug lord Hector Ramirez to commit the killings and was sentenced to life in prison. (SVU: "Rotten")

Known Victims[]

• Unknown dates:
  • Willy Angels (shot by Cooper; survived)
  • Unnamed Dominican drug dealer (stabbed by Edmunds while Cooper held him in a choke-hold)
  • Unnamed Dominican drug dealer (beaten and kicked to death by Edmunds while Cooper held him in a choke-hold)
  • Three Dominican drug dealers (all shot in the chest by Edmunds while Cooper held them in a choke-hold)
  • Javier Vasquez (throat slit by Edmunds while Cooper held him in a choke-hold)
• January 5, 2003: Carlos Torres (Cooper held him down with his baton while Edmunds sodomized him with a plunger handle)