Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer William Cotter succumbed to injuries received two days earlier when he was struck by a drunk driver at 10:00 pm. He was crossing the street in the 300 block of Morganford Road when the car struck him. The driver of the vehicle was charged with manslaughter.
Survivors
Officer Cotter had been with the agency for 36 years and was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-087F6350- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
36 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Cotter gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 36 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cotter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William F. Cotter is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William F. Cotter's cause is highlighted.
How William F. Cotter Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with manslaughter
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William F. Cotter is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William F. Cotter was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
