Florida Highway Patrol, Florida
End of Watch: Monday, July 13, 1981
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: July 13, 1981
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Charged with homicide
Trooper Merle 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. The primary burglary suspect was convicted of burglary and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was released only to be sentenced to 6 years for cocaine sale in October of 2010, and he currently resides in the Florida State Prison System.
Trooper Cook had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 10 years. He was survived by his four sons, parents, and two nephews.