Roll of Honor
Incident
Investigator John Cotter succumbed to injuries he received in a vehicle crash on Route 17 in Sullivan County. Investigator Cotter was returning to the Middletown Station after testifying in a trial when he lost control of his vehicle on the slippery road. He was transported to Monticello Community General Hospital, where he died from his injuries the next day. Investigator Cotter had served with the New York State Police for 11 years and was assigned to the Middletown Bureau of Criminal Investigations.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-0C5A0F3F- 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.
Investigator Cotter gave the New York State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Cotter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Investigator John F. Cotter 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 NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At New York State Police, 94 of 171 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 55% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Cotter's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Cotter Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Cotter is highlighted in Nov.
Others Who Wore This Badge
170 officers from New York State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
