Metra Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: 976
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 27, 2006
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer Thomas A. Cook was shot and killed while sitting in his patrol car across the street from the Metra Electric Line station at 147th and Clinton Streets in Harvey, Illinois.
He was conducting surveillance on the station, which had seen a recent surge in armed robberies, when a subject walked up to his patrol car and shot him without warning. The subject then stole Officer Cook's service weapon before fleeing.
On January 5th, 2009, authorities charged one of two suspects with three counts of murder. In October 2010 the subject plead guilty to murder for acting as a lookout during Officer Cook's slaying. He also plead guilty to attempted murder for his involvement in a shootout with a Harvey Police Department officer earlier that same day. He received 20 years for each conviction to be served consecutively.
On November 11th, 2010, a second man was charged with the murder of Officer Cook and attempted murder of the Harvey police officer. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years plus 10 years for the attempted murder of the Harvey officer. He said he killed Officer Cook so he could get his gun to replace a gun he lost during the shootout with the Harvey officer. On March 31st, 2016, he was sentenced to life in prison for Officer Cook's murder.
Officer Cook was a U.S. Army veteran. He had served with the Metra Transit Police Department for three years and previously served with the Riverdale Police Department for nine years. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, mother, brother, and sister. His brother serves with the Cook County Sheriff's Office and his father served as chief of the Riverdale Police Department.