David S. Cox
Deputy Sheriff

David S. Cox

Hughes County Sheriff's Dept. — Holdenville, OK
Felonious
End of Watch January 31, 1908
Age 40
Tour of Duty 2 mo
The Vigil Panel 22 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy David Cox was shot and while attempting to arrest the owner of a shooting gallery. He had gone to the gallery after receiving a complaint from a citizen that their were illegal guns there. After searching the gallery once he found no illegal weapons and returned to question the citizen again. When he returned to the gallery a second time to arrest the owner he was shot in the chest and killed.

Deputy Cox had served with the agency for two months. He was survived by his wife and seven children. He is buried at Glory Cemetery in Hughes County, Oklahoma.

Deputy Cox had served with the agency for two months. He was survived by his wife and seven children. He is buried at Glory Cemetery in Hughes County, Oklahoma.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-0F3798EE
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew David. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Cox served with the Hughes County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Holdenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cox.

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

Agency

Location Holdenville, OK
Platform Identity hcso.hughes.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1908
Tour of Duty 2 mo
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle

Deputy Sheriff David S. Cox 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Hughes County Sheriff's Dept., 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Hughes County Sheriff's Dept.
3
of 4 officers
75% Felonious
OK — Statewide
403
of 582 officers
69.2% 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. David S. Cox'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 David S. Cox Compares

Age at End of Watch
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David S. Cox is highlighted in Jan.

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. David S. Cox was killed by rifle.

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