Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

David L. Cole

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 17, 1974

Age 24

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge P160

The Vigil Panel 114 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 105

Incident

Patrolman David Cole was shot and killed after responding to an alarm call at United Dairy Farmers at 2373 Florence Avenue. When he arrived on the scene, he observed two men walking nearby. As he approached them, they opened fire, wounding him twice. One of the suspects then took Patrolman Cole's revolver and shot him again. Patrolman Cole was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Both suspects, both 23, were sentenced to death but had the sentences commuted to life. One of the men was paroled in 1991 and moved to California. The other suspect has been denied parole four times, and the next hearing is on March 1, 2027. Patrolman Cole was an Ohio National Guard veteran and had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for five years. His father was also a Cincinnati Police Officer. He was survived by his wife, parents, and four siblings. In September 2021, a street near Florence and Gilbert Avenues in Walnut Hills was named after Patrolman David Cole. In 2023, a portion of Interstate 71 was dedicated as “Patrolman David L. Cole Memorial Highway.” He is buried in Saint Peter Cemetery, New Richmond, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, parents, and four siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-5226AA83
Stewardship: 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Cole gave the Cincinnati Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Cincinnati Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 17, 1974

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 24

Badge Number P160

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

David L. Cole served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman David L. Cole is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.

Cincinnati Police Department

of 106 officers

59.4% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious