Louisville Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Saturday, February 23, 1974
Age: 21
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 4 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 23, 1974
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 2 years
Patrolman Jonah Cox was shot and killed when he intervened in a disturbance outside of a night club while off duty. When he identified himself as a police officer one of the men fled on foot with Patrolman Cox in pursuit.
The man pulled out a gun and shot Patrolman Cox as he caught him in the parking lot of a nearby restaurant at 3618 Bardstown Road.
Both men were charged with murder but accepted plea bargains, after a mistrial, to lesser charges and were sentenced to jail. The killer got two years for voluntary manslaughter.
Patrolman Cox served with the Louisville Police Department for less than two and a half years and was survived by his daughter.