Leander M. Cook
Agency patch
Deputy Prohibition Officer

Leander M. Cook

Felonious
End of Watch November 15, 1924
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 48 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Prohibition Officer Leander Cook was shot and killed in Van, West Virginia, while attempting to arrest a constable who was wanted for making a false arrest.

Despite being wounded, Officer Cook returned fire and killed the subject. Officer Cook died two days later.

Officer Cook was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Officer Cook was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-3FB3D806
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.
Deputy Prohibition Officer Cook served with the West Virginia Department of Prohibition.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Prohibition Officer Cook.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Charleston, WV
Platform Identity wvdpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 15, 1924
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Prohibition Officer Leander M. Cook 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At West Virginia Department of Prohibition, 12 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia Department of Prohibition
12
of 13 officers
92.3% Felonious
WV — Statewide
169
of 232 officers
72.8% 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. Leander M. Cook's cause is highlighted.

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

How Leander M. Cook Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leander M. Cook 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. Leander M. Cook was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location