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Eugene Linwood Cousins
Incident
Reserve Officer Eugene Cousins suffered a fatal stroke while searching a ravine for a suspect following a vehicle pursuit.
Officer Cousins was riding with a full time officer when they attempted to stop an off-road motorcycle for several traffic violations. The motorcycle sped away and the rider drove towards a steep ravine, where the officers lost sight of the motorcycle.
After both officers searched on foot for a few minutes, Reserve Officer Cousins told the other officer to drive to the other side of the ravine and he would search it on foot and meet him on the other side. When Officer Cousins failed to reach the other side the officer began searching for him. The officer eventually located him unresponsive about 700 feet into the ravine.
Officer Cousins was transported to a local hospital where he died two days later.
Officer Cousins had served with the North Mankato Police Department for 14 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Reserve Officer Cousins gave the North Mankato Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the North Mankato community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Officer Cousins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Eugene Linwood Cousins served in the the United States military (1951â1958) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Illness
Eugene is the only officer of North Mankato Police Department remembered here.
Eugene is one of 9 officers lost to illness in MN, 3.1% of the 293 remembered there.
Eugene is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Eugene is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1979, 1 officer in MN was lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 6 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 4.
In 1979, 1 officer in the United States was lost to illness, the 75th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 1979, 4 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 134th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Eugene was 48. Of the 9 lost to illness in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 41 and 58; the middle age was 50. Eugene had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 13.5 years.
Eugene was 48. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Eugene had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Eugene was 48. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Eugene had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
May holds 11.1% of these deaths in MN; December holds the most, 33.3%. Sundays: 44.4%.
May holds 6.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Sundays: 14.2%.
May holds 6.7% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Sundays: 13.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at North Mankato Police Department.
Illness deaths account for 3.1% of all 293 deaths in MN, the 4th most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
Military Service
Eugene Linwood Cousins served in the United States military (1951–1958) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Eugene Linwood Cousins’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
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