My Colorado roots run deep. My ancestors on my mother’s side originally settled here in the 1860s and proudly boast four generations of Colorado School of Mines graduates.
My father’s business took us to other parts of the world. I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and lived there for the first five years of my life. At that time I spoke both English and Spanish and can appreciate the challenges and beauty of living in a culture that didn’t speak the primary language spoken in my home.
My parents divorced when I was young, so we came back to Colorado to be closer to my mother’s family. My Mom is a remarkable woman; she raised my two sisters and me on her own at a time when there weren’t many women in the labor force.
I knew from an early age that I wanted to serve the community as a member of law enforcement. After graduating from Arvada West High School, I headed north to the University of Northern Colorado where I earned a degree in Sociology.
I joined the United States Army National Guard while still in college and served for six years in the 220th MP Company.
Upon graduation from UNC, I took a position with Breckenridge Police Department, but I always wanted to come back to Northern Colorado. When a position with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office opened up, my family and I couldn’t return fast enough.
My two beautiful children were fortunate enough to grow up on a small farm near Kersey. There is absolutely no better place to raise a family than Weld County, Colorado.
I worked my way up through the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office, starting as a patrol deputy and soon became a detective investigating homicides, rape cases, and sex assaults on children. I earned numerous promotions under two different Sheriffs – Harold Andrews and Ed Jordan.
I am a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in Quantico, Virginia. I was elected Weld County Sheriff in 2002 and am currently serving my third and final term. Nothing has given me greater pleasure than being your Sheriff.
Currently my wife Amy and I enjoy living near UNC, where my Northern Colorado life all began. We have a wonderful blended family that includes my two children, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and three stepchildren, a dog, and a cat.
After nearly thirty years at the WCSO my career is coming to a close, but I still have the desire to serve the people of Weld County as the elected State Senator in District 13.
2015 Legislative Update
As of 2015, Cooke serves as a member on the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Transportation Committee.
He has sponsored legislation to revise the process of review of state carbon emission plans, to refine the requirements for medical testing that occurs in cases of first, second, and third degree assault, to eliminate certain duties for probation officers, and to increase the class of offense in certain cases of second or third degree assault.
The first piece of legislation that Senator Cooke introduced, Senate Bill 005, passed out of the Senate unanimously and with bipartisan support,and was introduced in the House on February 4, 2015. This bill was signed by the governor on April 16, 2015.
2016 Legislative Update
As of 2016, Cooke serves as a member of the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Transportation Committee.