Cornelius R. Pake
Agency patch
Marshal

Cornelius R. Pake

Yelm Police Department — Yelm, WA
Felonious
End of Watch February 6, 1926
Age 73
The Vigil Panel 50 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal Pake was shot and killed after interrupting a burglary of a service station. Marshal Pake was shot four times in the groin and once in the leg. He was taken to St. Peter's Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries that night. A 25-year-old man was arrested in Olympia three months later and charged with Marshal Pake's murder. His first trial ended with a hung jury. During his second trial the murder charge was dismissed due to a lack of evidence.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-60E5A3C7
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Marshal Pake served with the Yelm Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Yelm community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Pake.

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

Agency

Location Yelm, WA
Platform Identity ypd.thurston.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 6, 1926
Age 73
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Murder charge dismissed

Marshal Cornelius R. Pake is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Yelm Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
WA — Statewide
187
of 339 officers
55.2% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cornelius R. Pake's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Cornelius R. Pake Compares

Age at End of Watch
73
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Murder charge dismissed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cornelius R. Pake is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Cornelius R. Pake was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518