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.