Roll of Honor
Wesley Arthur Cope Jr.
Incident
Location: California Incident Date: Saturday, August 11, 1945
Staff Sergeant Wesley Cope was killed when the military police staff car crashed near the intersection of Williams Road and East Alisal Street, outside Salinas Army Air Base near Salinas, California.
He was riding in the vehicle with five other military policemen responding to an emergency call when the driver became blinded by the lights of an approaching vehicle and lost control of the car, crashing into a vacant lot and overturning. All of the injured were taken to Fort Ord Base Hospital, where they were all treated.
Staff Sergeant Cope suffered a broken neck from the accident and succumbed to his injuries the next day. He was buried at Memorial park Cemetary in St. Louis.
Staff Sergeant Cope was a United States World War II veteran who had served with the United States Army Air Force Military Police for almost five years and was stationed at the Salinas Army Air Base.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents.
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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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.
Staff Sergeant Cope gave the United States Army Air Force Military Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Wesley Arthur Cope Jr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Staff Sergeant Wesley Arthur Cope Jr. is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 32 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Army Air Force Military Police, 3 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wesley Arthur Cope Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Wesley Arthur Cope Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Wesley Arthur Cope Jr. is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Military Service
Wesley Arthur Cope Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Wesley Arthur Cope 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
3 officers from United States Army Air Force Military Police are honored on badge.nw.
