Roll of Honor
Incident
High Sheriff John Cook was shot in the head and killed while discharging his duties as sheriff.
The subject who shot him was believed to have fled to Tennessee.
Sheriff Cook had served as sheriff for only 10 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-1FE3E216- 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
222 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
High Sheriff Cook served with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
High Sheriff John Caldwell 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Caldwell Cook's cause is highlighted.
How John Caldwell Cook Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Caldwell Cook is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Caldwell Cook was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
