Medford, Ore. — Those who knew deputy Jack Hopkins are finding it hard to believe that he’s gone. Hopkins was shot and killed while responding to a family disturbance call in Alturas, California on Wednesday.
Cortney Martin has known Hopkins for several years.
“It doesn’t feel real, whatsoever,” Martin said. “It’s hard to understand it, that you can be having a normal conversation with someone about something that happened in your life, and then the next day you go to reach for that person and them not be there is something you can’t, your brain just cannot wrap around.”
Martin said she spoke with Hopkins on a regular basis, often talking about his job as a deputy.
“I asked him, I was like, ‘do you enjoy your job,’ because he’s in a small town, he’s like, ‘I love my job,” Martin said. “He wouldn’t trade it for the world, and for him to say that less than a week ago.. and it to come down to this.”
Hopkins leaves behind friends and an extensive family, including his sister and her children, who he was particularly close with. It’s something Martin says is a reflection on Hopkins.
“He would do anything for you, no matter what time of day it is, he would have your back, he would make sure you’re doing okay, every single day.”
The pair were even planning to meet this Sunday in Klamath Falls.
“Just to, you know, meet up for lunch, and go from there, and just kind of catch up,” Martin said.
Now Martin is left with those plans, and years of memories with a friend who gave his all for the life he always wanted.
“He had so much going for him, he came from a place where he wasn’t in a good spot in his life, to finally get to a spot where he has everything he wanted, he finally got to point where he was happy, and living his dream, and to have that taken away to sudden is unbelievable.”
A memorial service has not yet been announced.
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