Officer John Cooper is a fictional character who appears on the American television series Southland.

They are divorced but remain on friendly terms, although Cooper refused her request to donate sperm for her to conceive a child.

He wears a back brace and self-medicates with pain pills, which he obtains from his ex-wife, drug dealers, and crime scenes he assists in investigating.

[8] They initially work well together and, following an encounter with a suicidal gay teenager, Tang and Cooper have a conversation in which she makes it clear she is aware of his homosexuality and it is not an issue.

Cooper realizes that Tang removed the orange tip from the toy's barrel after the shooting, but he does not give that information during the investigation into the incident.

The season ends with Tang's being promoted and moved to a different area division; she gives Cooper the orange tip as a keepsake.

The responding police order Cooper to show his hands and, when they spot the gun, open fire, shooting him twice in his torso.

Southland initially dealt with his sexuality obliquely, with the closest he has been shown to coming out being a conversation with his partner/trainee, Officer Ben Sherman.

[9] Cudlitz has expressed his surprise that some viewers denied that Cooper is gay, saying that the show "couldn't be any clearer".

[20] Following the conclusion of season 3, executive producer Christopher Chulack stated in an interview that future development plans for the character are uncertain.

He expressed his hope that Cooper, with the conclusion of his addiction story, will "come back fixed and unencumbered" and return to being an outstanding police officer.

[21] Speaking in advance of season 5, Michael Cudlitz reported that Cooper's stories would increase the focus on his personal life, including his sexuality.

Michael Cudlitz received a 2013 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.