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Patrolman

Joseph L. Coote

Nassau County Police Department — Mineola, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch March 22, 1961

Age 31

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 535

The Vigil Panel 211 · Column 4 · Line 11 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 50

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Coote was shot and killed by one of three armed robbers he was attempting to arrest at the intersection of Brinkerhoff Lane and Third Street in Manhasset. The suspects fled the scene but were later arrested. The gunman, age 21, who had the words I HATE COPS tattooed on his chest, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled on April 18, 1988. The other two suspects, both 19, were convicted of manslaughter and robbery and sentenced to 35 to 70 years in prison. One of them was paroled in 1983. Patrolman Coote was a United States Army Korean War veteran and had served with the Nassau County Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, mother, father, three sisters, and a brother.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Coote gave the Nassau County Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mineola community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Nassau County Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Mineola, Nassau County, NY

Platform Identity ncpd.nassau.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 22, 1961

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 31

Badge Number 535

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Joseph L. Coote served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1961, 69 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 104th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Joseph was 31. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded