Roll of Honor
Incident
Railroad Detective Frank Cook and Railroad Detective Daniel Vreeland were shot and killed in Detroit, Michigan, by a railroad police officer from another railroad in a case of mistaken identity.
The three officers, who knew each other well, were accustomed to meeting nightly at the junction of Michigan Central Railroad tracks and Lake Shore Railroad tracks near Junction Street. Detective Vreeland and Detective Cook, knowing that the other officer was attempting to locate a pair of thieves, attempted to play a practical joke on him by jumping from behind a railroad car and surprising him.
Not recognizing them, the other officer opened fire, fatally striking both officers.
Still not knowing whom he had shot, the officer met a Detroit police officer and informed him he had shot two robbers. When they returned to the scene the officer discovered he had shot his two friends and collapsed. He was arrested by the Detroit police officer but later released following a coroner's hearing.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-75C43D4D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Railroad Detective Cook served with the Michigan Central Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Railroad Detective Cook.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Railroad Detective Frank J. Cook is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In MI, 229 of 718 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 31.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Michigan Central Railroad Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank J. Cook's cause is highlighted.
How Frank J. Cook Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Frank J. Cook is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Michigan Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
