Somerset County Sheriff’s Cpl. Eugene Cole was remembered by friends and colleagues as a generous, affable man who was skilled at negotiating in tense situations.
“For a guy that would go into a hostile situation and be as small a man as he was, he could talk down the giant that was standing there,” said Troy Bowden, fire chief for the town of Canaan, who knew Cole, 61, for more than 20 years. “He could disarm the whole situation if he had that chance to talk, to get the conversation going.”
“Anytime he could defuse a situation without having to use excessive force, that’s the way he would do things,” he said.
Cole, who lived in Norridgewock and worked for the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office for 13 years, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning by 29-year-old John D. Williams, of Madison, police said. The killing spurred a nationwide manhunt. Williams had still not been found by Wednesday evening.
Those who knew Cole were reeling from the loss in the hours following his death.
“I just couldn’t believe that it actually happened. His [face] has been right in my mind all morning, no matter what I’ve been doing,” Bowden said. “He was down to earth, just a decent human. He was that kind man who would talk to anybody, just a nice gentleman.”
Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said Cole was an “outstanding deputy who has served with great distinction.”
Norridgewock resident Roger Reynolds, a handyman, said he had a lot of respect for Cole, and knew him through his own run-ins with the law. But he only had praise for him
“As an officer, he was well-mannered and treated us with respect,” Reynolds said.
Cole would stop by the Canaan fire station frequently, sometimes a few times a week, depending on his shifts, said Bowden, who has been with the department since 1999 and became chief six years ago. Bowden made sure Cole had a key to the station during night shifts, so he could come in to use the bathroom or make a pot of coffee.
Cole was a skilled guitarist who used to play in a band called Borderline Express, said Scott Bishop, who was at one point related to Cole by marriage.
Condolences for Cole poured in from around the country.
Republican Gov. Paul LePage expressed his condolences to Cole’s family in a series of tweets Wednesday, and directed that all U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff for at least three days to honor the fallen deputy.
Cpl. Cole served his community with honor. His sacrifice will not be forgotten. Our thoughts are also with all of Maine’s law enforcement community as they mourn the loss of their colleague. We pray for their continued safety. Please continue to cooperate with them and be safe.
— Paul R. LePage (@Governor_LePage) April 25, 2018
“He served his community with honor, and his sacrifice will not be forgotten,” LePage said.
Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Independent Sen. Angus King, also expressed sadness over Cole’s death. Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin said he was “horrified” to learn of Cole’s murder.
I am deeply saddened to learn Cpl. Eugene Cole was killed in the line of duty in Norridgewock this morning. Cpl. Cole served the citizens of Somerset County for 13 years with honor & distinction, & Maine will be eternally grateful for his brave actions to protect his community.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) April 25, 2018
I’m heartbroken by the loss of Corporal Eugene Cole, a 13 year veteran of the Somerset County Sherriff’s Office. Praying for his family and friends, and the many law enforcement officials working to capture his killer.
— Senator Angus King (@SenAngusKing) April 25, 2018
I am absolutely horrified and heartbroken by the reports this morning of the killing of one of our brave law enforcement officers, Deputy Sheriff Corporal Eugene Cole, in Norridgewock, who was responding to an incident and preforming his duty.
— Rep. Bruce Poliquin (@RepPoliquin) April 25, 2018
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Corporal Eugene Cole in this time of terrible loss, and our deepest thanks to the brave men and women of law enforcement working to keep us safe today and everyday.
— Speaker Sara Gideon (@SpeakerGideon) April 25, 2018
Police departments across the country joined in remembering Cole.
The Boston Police Department offers our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Deputy Corporal Eugene Cole of Somerset County, Maine, who was killed in the line of duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) April 25, 2018
Our deepest condolences go out to the #somersetcountysheriffsdepartment and all family and friends in the death of deputy Eugene Cole. No words ?
— AugustaMEPolice (@augustamepolice) April 25, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers go out this morning to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and to the family, friends and coworkers of Corporal Eugene Cole.
— Aroostook Sheriff (@Sheriff_North) April 25, 2018
CONDOLENCES to Somerset County SO and family of Corporal Eugene Cole who was shot and killed this AM by a subject who was out on bond for a previous weapons charge. pic.twitter.com/btia3WO10n
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) April 25, 2018
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