Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Gail Cobb was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a bank robbery suspect at 20th Street and L Street, NW. While walking her beat, she was tipped off that a suspected bank robber had just fled into a nearby underground parking garage. Officer Cobb located the man and instructed him to place his hands on the wall. As she radioed for assistance, the suspect spun around and fired a single shot at point-blank range. The bullet went through her wrist and her police radio and then penetrated her heart. She died at the scene. The suspect was arrested at the scene by responding officers. Officer Cobb had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for one year and was the first female Metropolitan Police Department officer to be killed in the line of duty. She is survived by her child. She is buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Suitland, Prince George's County, Maryland.
Survivors
She is survived by her child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-8330C79C- 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
You barely got started.
Officer Cobb gave the Metropolitan Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cobb.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Gail A. Cobb 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gail A. Cobb's cause is highlighted.
How Gail A. Cobb Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gail A. Cobb is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gail A. Cobb was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
