Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Gene Cox was shot and killed while assisting the manager at the Ebb Tide RV Park in Eureka during a dispute with a resident. The unarmed Sheriff Cox parked in front of the subject's trailer and began to approach the trailer. The subject shot Sheriff Cox five times with a .30-.30 rifle at a range of approximately 15 feet. He then went to the management office and shot the manager, who was Sheriff Cox's father-in-law, and a bystander who went to his aid. The suspect, who had just been released from the Napa State Hospital, was shot and killed by Eureka police officers who were responding to the call. Sheriff Cox had been in law enforcement for 29 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-5E6941C7- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Gene. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Gene is one person.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
29 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Cox gave the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Eureka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Cox.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Gene W. Cox served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1945â1946) before joining law enforcement.
Sheriff Gene W. Cox 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Humboldt County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gene W. Cox's cause is highlighted.
How Gene W. Cox Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gene W. Cox is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gene W. Cox was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Military Service
Gene W. Cox served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1945–1946) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Gene W. Cox’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Humboldt County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
