Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Gene Cox was shot and killed while assisting the manager at the Ebb Tide RV Park in Eureka during a dispute with a resident. The unarmed Sheriff Cox parked in front of the subject's trailer and began to approach the trailer. The subject shot Sheriff Cox five times with a .30-.30 rifle at a range of approximately 15 feet. He then went to the management office and shot the manager, who was Sheriff Cox's father-in-law, and a bystander who went to his aid. The suspect, who had just been released from the Napa State Hospital, was shot and killed by Eureka police officers who were responding to the call. Sheriff Cox had been in law enforcement for 29 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-5E6941C7- 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
29 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Cox gave the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Eureka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Cox.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Gene W. 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 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 Humboldt County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gene W. Cox's cause is highlighted.
How Gene W. Cox Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gene W. Cox is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gene W. Cox was killed by rifle; .30-.30.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Humboldt County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
