Edgar Donald Cooley
Agency patch
Patrolman

Edgar Donald Cooley

Honea Path Police Department — Honea Path, SC
Felonious
End of Watch November 6, 1973
Age 50
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 112 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Edgar Cooley was fatally shot by a 73-year-old man when he responded to a domestic disturbance call at Mississippi Street. The suspect surrendered to officers a short time later. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Details of his incarceration and the reason for and date of his release are not known, but he died at his home in Honea Path on October 23, 1977. Patrolman Cooley had served with the Honea Path Police Department for five years and in law enforcement for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four sons, and a daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-62B1049B
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.
Patrolman Cooley gave the Honea Path Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Honea Path community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cooley.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Honea Path, SC
Platform Identity hppd.anderson.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 6, 1973
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Patrolman Edgar Donald Cooley 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Honea Path Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Honea Path Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
SC — Statewide
272
of 441 officers
61.7% 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. Edgar Donald Cooley's cause is highlighted.

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

How Edgar Donald Cooley Compares

Age at Death
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edgar Donald Cooley is highlighted in Nov.

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. Edgar Donald Cooley was killed by shotgun.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Honea Path Police Department are honored on badge.nw.