Lieutenant Billy E. Cowart
Decatur Police Department
Georgia
End of Watch: Sunday, January 17, 1971

Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Sunday, January 17, 1971
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentence commuted to life

Lieutenant Cowart was shot and killed during a traffic stop. During the stop he had requested backup and when other units arrived they found him in his patrol car suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. A suspect was arrested and sentenced to death but had the sentence commuted to life when the US Supreme Court found the death sentence to be unconstitutional and he was released after only ten years.