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J. Rollin Cooler
Incident
Dispensary Constable Rollin Cooler was shot from ambush and fatally wounded while raiding five blind tigers on St. Helena Island in Beaufort County.
Constable Cooler and his deputy were walking towards a local gathering spot when a shotgun blast of buckshot struck him in the face. Earlier, Constable Cooler had a confrontation with a local store owner who threatened to kill him. Constable Cooler's brother, a Beaufort County Deputy Sheriff, and a posse of citizens arrested the store owner and four other men. Constable Cooler died the next day as he was being loaded on a boat to be taken to a hospital in Savannah.
The store owner and one of the other four men were convicted of first-degree murder. In the state's first double execution, both men died in the electric chair on September 4th, 1913.
Constable Cooler was survived by his wife and two children. His brother's son and grandson became law enforcement officers, and now his great-grandson is a law enforcement officer in South Carolina.
He is buried at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bluffton, South Carolina.
Survivors
Constable Cooler was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Dispensary Constable Cooler served with the South Carolina State Dispensary Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Dispensary Constable Cooler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
South Carolina State Dispensary Commission has lost 9 officers; 9 of them killed feloniously.
J. is one of 272 officers killed feloniously in SC, 61.5% of the 442 remembered there.
J. is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
J. is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1913, 1 officer at South Carolina State Dispensary Commission was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 6 years on record. The heaviest was 1894, with 2.
In 1913, 4 officers in SC were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 119 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 7.
In 1913, 133 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1913, 136 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
J. was 37. Of the 5 killed feloniously at South Carolina State Dispensary Commission whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 43; the middle age was 37.
J. was 37. Of the 243 killed feloniously in SC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38.
J. was 37. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
J. was 37. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
March holds 11.1% of these deaths at South Carolina State Dispensary Commission; July holds the most, 33.3%. Sundays: 22.2%.
March holds 7% of these deaths in SC; July holds the most, 10.7%. Sundays: 19.5%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 9 deaths at South Carolina State Dispensary Commission. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 11.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.5% of all 442 deaths in SC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 11.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
South Carolina State Dispensary Commission has 9 officers remembered here, J. among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from South Carolina State Dispensary Commission are honored on badge.nw.
