Michael Joseph Cowdery Jr.

Baltimore Police Department — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch March 12, 2001

Age 31

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 148 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Agent Michael Cowdery was shot and killed while he and his partner were questioning two men in the 2300 block of Harford Road.

They were part of a 120-member unit working a plainclothes detail targeting violence in the city. As they approached the two men, a third man came around the corner and opened fire on them with a .357 caliber pistol, striking Agent Cowdery in the head and upper body.

Agent Cowdery's partner and a third officer who witnessed the shooting from across the street were able to return fire. The third officer chased the man for approximately 100 yards and exchanged gunfire with him again, striking him in the side, and arrested him.

Agent Cowdery was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries approximately 30 minutes later.

The suspect was convicted of Agent Cowdery's murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Agent Cowdery had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for 4-1/2 years. Survivors include his parents, sister, and son. His father also served in law enforcement.

Survivors

Survivors include his parents, sister, and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-63B379D7
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.
Agent Cowdery gave the Baltimore City Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Agent Cowdery.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Department

Type Other

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 2001

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 6 mo

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

Agent Michael Joseph Cowdery Jr. 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 51.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Baltimore Police Department, 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.

Baltimore Police Department

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious