Roll of Honor
Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr.
Incident
Detective Theodore Cole was shot and killed by a subject whom he had previously arrested several times.
Detective Cole was at home when the subject approached him in his yard and opened fire with a shotgun without warning.
The subject who murdered him was sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in 1988 and died in 2001.
Detective Cole was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Chapel Hill Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-0E9B70DD- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Theodore is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Detective Cole gave the Chapel Hill Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chapel Hill community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Detective Theodore Roosevelt Cole 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr. is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr. was killed by shotgun.
Military Service
Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Chapel Hill Police Department are honored on badge.nw.