Trooper Merle J. Cook
Florida Highway Patrol
Florida
End of Watch: Monday, July 13, 1981
Cause: Aircraft accident

Biographical Info
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available

Trooper Cook, Corporal Cleo Tomlinson, and Trooper Robert Pruitt were killed in an airplane accident while searching for two breaking-and-entering suspects in St. John's County.

The suspects were charged with three counts of homicide in connection with the deaths of all three troopers.

Trooper Cook had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 10 years.