Palo Alto Police Department, California
End of Watch: Friday, January 31, 1969
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 14 years
Badge Number: R-9
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: January 31, 1969
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Reserve Officer Lester Cole was laying flares at an accident scene when he was struck and killed by the driver of an automobile. The driver reported he never saw the officer.
Officer Cole was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Merchant Marines. He had served as a reserve officer with the Palo Alto Police Department for 14 years and was survived by his wife and children.