November 08, 2009
What's Inside:
Highway honors fallen deputy
After just more than a year after their loss, the Cook family got recognition.
Following the passing of Senate Bill 753, and with the support of Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St.Joseph, a portion of Belt Highway will now be known as the Deputy Charles M. Cook Memorial Highway.
Mr. Cook died from injuries he suffered in an on-duty wreck while in pursuit of a reported erratically driven motorcycle on June 23, 2007. St. Joseph Police Department records revealed that Mr. Cook’s brother-in-law — Aaron Smullin, 18, of St. Joseph — was a passenger participating in a citizen ride-along when the early morning wreck occurred.
A formal dedication ceremony was held at the Law
Enforcement Center Thursday. Several members of law enforcement as well as the community witnessed the unveiling of one of the highway signs that are now posted on Belt Highway. Mr. Cook’s teary-eyed wife, Renee, and young son, Trevor, both helped Mr. Shields unveil the sign.
“We should do more than this, and we can do more than this to honor this brave young man,” Mr. Shields said.
During the ceremony MoDOT presented Trevor and the Fraternal Order of Police with miniature road signs dedicated to Mr. Cook. The St. Joseph Highlanders played “Amazing Grace” following the unveiling.
The portion of Belt Highway named for Mr. Cook runs from Frederick Boulevard north to the intersection of Gene Field Road. A few hours after the ceremony the signs were ready to be posted.
Mr. Cook, at age 28, was the first Buchanan County deputy to die while on duty since Horry Fish, who died in 1868 during an inmate attack at the jail.
“Now the community won’t forget what he did,” said Sheriff Mike Strong. “His family, his son, and his son’s children and grandchildren will know what he did.”
This is the second memorial highway dedication for Mr. Shields. In 2001 he helped successfully designate the 2.7-mile stretch of Interstate 29 between Frederick Boulevard and U.S. Highway 169 North in St. Joseph as the Sgt. Robert Kimberling Memorial Highway. Mr. Kimberling, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, was killed in the line of duty.
Megan Tilk can be reached
at megantilk@npgco.com.
This story has 14 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
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Once again my heart goes out to the Cook family for their loss, however, Robert Kimberling was shot during a traffic stop by a fleeing fugitive, Deputy Cook, while not wearing a seat belt, pulled out in front of a semi to chase a speeding motorcycle, as he had a citizen passenger in tow for a "ride along". Comparing the two seems to be wrong some how.
It's too bad that Senator Shields can not or will not spend as much if not more time creating a bill that will toughen the sentences on those who commit crimes against children. Perhaps that task is a little more difficult than getting a patch of highway renamed. I hope when he is up for re-election the voters will take notice of his "accomplishments" or lack of them when it comes to serious issues, to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
FYI rush620 Charlie didn't pull out in front of a semi,the semi was pulling onto the belt hwy as Charlie was cresting the hill.Charlie was a friend of mine and I don't believe this is the place or article to vent about Mr. Shields.
and Mr. Shields won't even be up for re-election, he will be term limited
He DOES NOT deserve a highway named after him! HE put himself, and others in danger by traveling at over 80 MPH on the Belt! Trying to catch a high performance motorcycle?? WOW!!
All though I am sorry for the loss of a fine deputy, naming a road after him is just stupid!
As mentioned above, Robert Kimberling was shot trying to take out a mad man that would have killed others had he not have been stopped, I do not see where a speeding motorcycle was ANYWEAR close to posing that kind of threat.....
He was all hyped up on adrenaline thinking about a chase, not thinking about the public!
As I said before barney, I don't mean any disrespect to Deputy Cook or his family as I know he is desperately missed, and was a good man, my point being, does this warrent a stretch of road being named after him, especially the exact area in which the wreck happened? Wouldn't a scholarship fund have helped more people to explore law enforcement as a proffession and kept his memory alive rather than a street sign? There are many worthy charities and programs out there that a "Deputy Charles Cook Memorial Fund" could have been a part of. As tragic as the whole thing is there are still people who believe that Deputy Cook was partially at fault. Right wrong or in between, I feel that there were better ways to remember Deputy Cook than to rename a portion of the Belt Hwy that will always be the Belt Hwy.
I think a lot of people have questioned the justification of this rush, but I think berney's point of now debating this only instills more pain in the family. I think it's better to just let it be now, your opinions aren't going to do anything to rescind the naming of the highway. It's unfair to cause the family anymore pain or grief because of your feelings on the highway renaming, whether it is right or wrong.
joetowner - you are right. I'm done.
If it is OK to name things after people who made a name or difference in St Joseph without any discussion as to what they are getting recognized for is right or wrong, I have a suggestion. If that is the case, Joetowner, maybe we ought to change the name of the town to Jesse James, Missouri. Discussions are healthy. If I were a relative or friend and had thin skin about the situation, I don't think I need to be on this site.
I am with Joetowner on this. Let the family be. This really isn't the place to debate this. I neither disagree nor agree with anyone's thoughts on this. I just think we need to leave it alone. Discuss it in person with your firends and family. Not in a place where his family can read it.
I'm with Joetowner. My heart goes out to the family.
That's cool MichaelH. All I am saying is that the debate should be brought elsewhere in regards to whether it was right or wrong because of what he did. He ides in the line of duty. I respect that. I feel that he is deserving of something. I was trying to shut up the negative comments. Not you. Remembrance is awesome. You shouldn't have taken it so personally.
Charlie was a wonderful person. He would do anything for anybody anytime. In my opinion if you dont like the fact that they re-named part of the belt, just dont look at the sign when you drive by it. And hopefully, we can leave it at that.