James S. Cook

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA

Felonious

End of Watch September 6, 1906

Age 31

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Officer James Cook was shot and killed by a suspect he had just placed under arrest. He had just finished his watch and was walking to the Southern Pacific Freight Yard to catch a ride to his house when he observed four men chopping up a coil of copper near the corner of Brannan and Seventh Streets. Officer Cook approached them and questioned one subject, who answered in an evasive manner. Officer Cook grabbed hold on one subject and placed him under arrest as the other three fled. The subject Officer Cook had grabbed then drew a revolver from his pocked and shot him three times, killing him. Four suspects, who claimed they had alibis, were later apprehended. Charges against all four were dropped. Officer Cook was survived by his wife, three daughters, mother, brother, and two sisters. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in San Francisco, California.

Survivors

Officer Cook was survived by his wife, three daughters, mother, brother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-5C2B7FCC
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.
Officer Cook served with the San Francisco Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cook.

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

Agency

Department San Francisco Police Department

Location San Francisco, CA

Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 6, 1906

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender At large

Officer James S. Cook 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.

San Francisco Police Department

of 106 officers

62.3% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious