In a 2010 article in the Sacramento Bee about the "jungle love" comments, Cooper, who is black, said he shouldn't have made what he called an "off-color joke." At the time, Cooper was mounting an unsuccessful bid for Sacramento County sheriff. The Bee reported that the staffer said through an attorney that she supported Cooper and felt the issue was overblown. Cooper left the department in 2014, after winning his first Assembly race. He has served in the Legislature ever since.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 22, 2018 08:03 UTC