The Officer Down Memorial Page Remembers . . .
 
Photograph: Special Agent Samuel P. Cowley

Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government






Special Agent Samuel P. Cowley
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Government

End of Watch: Wednesday, November 28, 1934

Biographical Info
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, November 27, 1934
Incident Location: Illinois
Weapon Used: Rifle; Machine gun
Suspect Info: The Dillinger Gang

Special Agent Samuel Cowley and Special Agent Herman Hollis were shot and killed by the infamous gangster Baby Face Nelson near Barrington, Illinois. The agents had forced the suspect's car into a ditch in an arrest attempt. The suspect came out of the ditch firing a Thompson sub-machine gun, fatally wounding both agents. Both agents were able to return fire, fatally wounding the suspect as well.

Baby Face Nelson, a member of the Dillinger Gang, was responsible for the murder of Special Agent W. Carter Baum seven months earlier.

Agent Cowley had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for five years.

Led by John Dillinger, the Dillinger Gang was a notorious group of mid-west bank robbers. Associates of the gang were responsible for the fatal shootings of 13 law enforcement officers in 1933 and 1934.

Two infamous members of the gang, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in separate incidents.

The other gang members were either murdered by criminals, shot and killed by law enforcement officers, executed for their crimes, or sentenced to time in prison.

Related Line of Duty Deaths
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentSheriff Jess L. Sarber
Allen County Sheriff's Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, October 12, 1933
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentDetective Henry C. Perrow
San Antonio Police Department, TX
EOW: Monday, December 11, 1933
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentSergeant William T. Shanley
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: Thursday, December 14, 1933
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentTrooper Eugene Teague
Indiana State Police, IN
EOW: Wednesday, December 20, 1933
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentPatrolman William Patrick O'Malley
East Chicago Police Department, IN
EOW: Monday, January 15, 1934
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentUndersheriff Charles A. Cavanagh
St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, MI
EOW: Friday, March 16, 1934
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentSpecial Agent W. Carter Baum
United States Department of Justice - F..., US
EOW: Sunday, April 22, 1934
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentPatrolman Francis Lloyd Mulvihill
East Chicago Police Department, IN
EOW: Thursday, May 24, 1934
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentPatrolman Martin J. O'Brien
East Chicago Police Department, IN
EOW: Thursday, May 24, 1934
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentPatrolman Howard C. Wagner
South Bend Police Department, IN
EOW: Saturday, June 30, 1934
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentSpecial Agent Herman E. Hollis
United States Department of Justice - F..., US
EOW: Tuesday, November 27, 1934
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. GovernmentChief of Police Franklin Pierce Culp
Fostoria Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, April 23, 1950
Cause of Death: Gunfire

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