Donald Ray Cook
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Donald Ray Cook

Felonious
End of Watch December 3, 1988
Age 37
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 256
The Vigil Panel 134 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Donald Cook was struck and killed while manning a roadblock during a vehicle pursuit on Interstate 10, east of U.S. 29. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office chased the armed robbery suspects' vehicle into Escambia County. The subjects attempted to run the roadblock and swerved at the last minute to avoid Deputy Cook. The vehicle in pursuit struck him at 7:30 p.m. The suspects were apprehended several miles down the road when their vehicle was disabled. The subjects were convicted of second-degree murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping. One was sentenced to 27 years with ten years of probation. His brother was sentenced to 15 years with ten years probation. Deputy Cook had served with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four children, and six grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-3425F6A1
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Cook gave the Escambia County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pensacola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cook.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Pensacola, Escambia County, FL
Platform Identity ecso.escambia.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 3, 1988
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 37
Badge Number 256
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Deputy Sheriff Donald Ray Cook 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Escambia County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.9% of this agency's fallen.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office
10
of 13 officers
76.9% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Ray Cook's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Donald Ray Cook Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Ray Cook is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Ray Cook was killed by automobile.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location