Slain Chapel Hill officer added to national memorial

Chapel Hill, N.C. — The name of a Chapel Hill Police Department detective who was gunned down more than 40 years ago will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., authorities said Thursday.

Theodore Roosevelt Cole Jr. was killed in 1969 when a man whom Cole had arrested many times went to the detective's home and shot him. During the gunman’s trial, it was revealed that he tracked Cole down to exact revenge for the previous arrests.

Cole was killed before a ceremony for his promotion to detective, so he was posthumously promoted at the inaugural Orange County Peace Officers Memorial Service last May.

His name will be added to the memorial in Washington in May, and representatives of the Chapel Hill Police Honor Guard will attend the service to participate in honoring him.

"While we are deeply saddened by the cost that Detective Cole paid in service to the Chapel Hill community, we are pleased that he will finally take his rightful place among all honored, fallen officers who have given their lives while serving their communities," the Chapel Hill Police Department said in a statement.

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RIP and thank you for your service

pinkiglock
January 18, 2013 6:12 p.m.

Having a family member whose name was put on that very wall in 2010, I can say it is an honor and I am happy for the family that he will get the recognition that he deserves and that they can have that pride of having his name added as well...