Ermon Boyce Cox
Agency patch
Trooper

Ermon Boyce Cox

Arkansas State Police — Little Rock, AR
Felonious
End of Watch August 17, 1958
Age 35
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Badge 147
The Vigil Panel 94 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Ermon Cox was shot and killed by a man suspected of driving while intoxicated. Trooper Cox and his 9 year-old son, in their personal automobile, had just left a store and followed the man into a nearby driveway. The suspect ran into his house, grabbed a rifle, and shot Trooper Cox through his windshield as he was backing away. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death on October 15, 1958. He was executed in Arkansas' electric chair on January 2, 1959. Trooper Cox had served with the agency for 8 months. He was survived by his wife and two children. His 9 year-old son went on to become a Arkansas State Trooper.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-4F4BA5AF
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Cox served with the Arkansas State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arkansas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Cox.

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

Agency

Location Little Rock, AR
Platform Identity asp.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 17, 1958
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Age 35
Badge Number 147
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle
Offender Executed in 1959

Trooper Ermon Boyce 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Arkansas State Police, 7 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.4% of this agency's fallen.

Arkansas State Police
7
of 23 officers
30.4% Felonious
AR — Statewide
249
of 372 officers
66.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ermon Boyce Cox's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Ermon Boyce Cox Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1959

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ermon Boyce Cox is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ermon Boyce Cox was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518