Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Kentucky Weapon: Officer's handgun Offender: Died in prison
Transportation Officer William Cox was shot and killed by a fugitive he was returning to Tennessee's Brushy Mountain Prison in Petros. Joe Blevins, a records clerk at the prison, who was with Officer Cox was also killed.
The 22 year-old suspect, serving a three year sentence for receiving stolen property, had escaped from the prison three weeks earlier. Two days later he was recaptured in Louisville, Kentucky.
Officer Cox and Clerk Blevins had stopped with their prisoner at a restaurant near Somerset, Kentucky, for lunch. The handcuffs were removed from the prisoner to permit him to eat. As the three were eating the suspect suddenly snatched Officer Cox's revolver from his holster and opened fire, killing Officer Cox instantly and fatally wounding Clerk Blevins. The suspect fled in Officer Cox's car and abandoned it five miles away in Shafter. The next day he walked into the Somerset Police Department and gave himself up.
The suspect was convicted of two counts of murder. He died at the Kentucky Sate Prison in Eddyville July 2, 1962.
Your heroism and service is honored today, the 60th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.
Rest In Peace
Phyllis Loya mom of fallen officer Larry Lasater, eow 4/24/05 November 9th, 2011
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TN-D276206F- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Transport Officer Cox served with the Tennessee Department of Correction.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Transport Officer Cox.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Transport Officer William Lonnie Cox 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tennessee Department of Correction, 11 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lonnie Cox's cause is highlighted.
How William Lonnie Cox Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lonnie Cox is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Lonnie Cox was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Tennessee Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
