Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Michael Cole was killed while responding to a call involving livestock on the road. His patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree on Pleasant Valley Road near El Dorado Street. It is believed that the improper placement of equipment in the patrol car interfered with the proper operation of the vehicle, contributing to the crash. Deputy Cole had served with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office for one year and had previously served with the Oxnard Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-CAB6E7E9- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Cole gave the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Placerville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cole.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Michael L. Cole is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael L. Cole's cause is highlighted.
How Michael L. Cole Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Michael L. Cole is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from El Dorado County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
