Michael G. Cook
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Michael G. Cook

Viola Police Department — Viola, WI
Accident
End of Watch November 25, 1976
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 118 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Mick Cook was killed in a single-vehicle crash while escorting an ambulance on an emergency call. He was traveling on Wisconsin 56, three-quarters of a mile west of Viola. Chief Cook was transported to La Crosse Lutheran Hospital where he succumbed to his head injuries. Chief Cook had served with the Viola Police Department for one month and also served with the Vernon County Sheriff's Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two stepdaughters, parents, a brother, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-D9C4D4D8
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.
Chief of Police Cook served with the Viola Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Viola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Cook.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Viola, WI
Platform Identity vpd.richland.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 25, 1976
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Chief of Police Michael G. Cook is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In WI, 124 of 317 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 39.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Viola Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Accident
WI — Statewide
124
of 317 officers
39.1% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael G. Cook's cause is highlighted.

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

How Michael G. Cook Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Michael G. Cook is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Viola Police Department are honored on badge.nw.