Roll of Honor
Incident
Investigator John Cotter succumbed to injuries he received in a vehicle crash on Route 17 in Sullivan County. Investigator Cotter was returning to the Middletown Station after testifying in a trial when he lost control of his vehicle on the slippery road. He was transported to Monticello Community General Hospital, where he died from his injuries the next day. Investigator Cotter had served with the New York State Police for 11 years and was assigned to the Middletown Bureau of Criminal Investigations.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NY-0C5A0F3F- 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.
Investigator Cotter gave the New York State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Cotter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Investigator John F. Cotter is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At New York State Police, 94 of 171 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 55% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Cotter's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Cotter Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Cotter is highlighted in Nov.
Others Who Wore This Badge
170 officers from New York State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
