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Merle J. Cook
Agency patch
Trooper

Merle J. Cook

Florida Highway Patrol — Tallahassee, FL
Accident
United States flag Florida flag
End of Watch July 13, 1981
Age 44
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 124 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 53

Incident

Trooper Merle Cook, Corporal Cleo Tomlinson, and Trooper Robert Pruitt were killed in an airplane accident while searching for two breaking-and-entering suspects in St. John's County. The suspects were charged with three counts of homicide in connection with the deaths of all three troopers. The primary burglary suspect was convicted of burglary and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was released only to be sentenced to 6 years for cocaine sale in October of 2010, and he currently resides in the Florida State Prison System. Trooper Cook had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his four sons, parents, and two nephews.

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.
Trooper Cook gave the Florida Highway Patrol 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Cook.

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

Agency

Department Florida Highway Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location Tallahassee, Leon County, FL
Platform Identity fhp.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1981
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Merle is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1981, 63 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Merle was 44. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Merle had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Florida Highway Patrol has 54 officers remembered here, Merle among them.

Across the years

Trooper Merle J. Cook

Florida Highway Patrol · End of Watch July 13, 1981

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E

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