Governor

Name of Fallen Corporal Eugene Cole Added to Maine Memorial Wall

Maine's law enforcement community is remembering its fallen.

On Thursday, hundreds of police officers gathered in Augusta for an annual ceremony, adding one more name to a wall of officers killed in the line of duty.

The 86th name to be etched on the memorial is Corporal Eugene Cole of the Somerset County Sheriff's Office.

Cole was shot and killed while on duty in 2018 while trying to apprehend John Williams, who is now charged with murdering Cole and is awaiting trial.

Thursday, Cole's wife, Sheryl Cole, laid flowers in front of her husband's name and watched from the front row as Maine Gov. Janet Mills gave a speech in honor of her and other survivors.

"To honor Cpl. Eugene Cole, follow in his footsteps," she said. "Be kind, help your fellow man. It doesn't matter what your job is, how big your house is or how much you pay for your car."

Since his brother's death, Tom Cole has connected with other families who have lost an officer.

People like Hilary Campbell, whose husband, Det. Ben Campbell, a Maine State Police trooper, was killed in the line of duty this spring.

Campbell's name will be added to the wall next year, though his name was displayed near it during this year's ceremony.

"Each name is a person, and they have family and friends," said Tom Cole.

Thursday, Tom and Sheryl Cole performed a song written by Eugene Cole before he died. The Cole brothers were in multiple bands in Central Maine and were known to perform in area venues.

Asked how his older brother would have felt had he been at the ceremony, Tom Cole said Eugene would be outwardly humble, but with a sense of pride inside.

"He'd be very proud," said Cole. "He would be very honored that people do look at him in that way, that the life he lived, it counted for something."

Contact Us