Dallas Assassinations: Slain Cop's Chance Meeting with Cuba Gooding Jr.

Officer Patrick Zamarripa, one of five Dallas cops assassinated Thursday, had a brush with Hollywood ... thanks to Cuba Gooding Jr.

Zamarripa posted this pic back in February after he and his partner had a chance meeting with Cuba in Dallas. Zamarripa used Twitter a lot ... his last post on July 4th read, "Happy Birthday to the greatest country on the face of this planet. My beloved America!"

It's no secret ... Cuba loves cops. We got video of him in NYC a few months back surrounded by officers ... and it was hugs all around.