Roll of Honor

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Town Sergeant

L. D. Cole

Burkeville Police Department — Burkeville, VA

Felonious

End of Watch November 28, 1936

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 72 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Town Sergeant L.D. Cole was shot and killed while pursuing two suspects on First Street, near Agnew Street. He had arrested the two men after responding to a disturbance at a local restaurant. After arresting the two, he took them to a business owned by the Justice of the Peace. Once inside, the two men suddenly fled with Town Sergeant Cole in pursuit. Shots were exchanged during the pursuit and Town Sergeant Cole and one of the suspects were killed. The suspect who was killed was found with a gun used to murder a restaurant owner two years earlier.

Survivors

Town Sergeant Cole was survived by his wife, six children, and three grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-2D2DBEC7
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.
Town Sergeant Cole served with the Burkeville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Burkeville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Sergeant Cole.

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

Agency

Department Burkeville Police Department

Location Burkeville, VA

Platform Identity bpd.nottoway.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 28, 1936

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Town Sergeant L. D. Cole 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Burkeville Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. L. D. Cole's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How L. D. Cole Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. L. D. Cole is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. L. D. Cole was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518