A Real County, Texas Sheriff's deputy died after during a training exercise this week.
Deputy Mark Cox suffered an apparent heart attack on Tuesday while participating in the exercise in Liberty Hill, according to a news release.
Cox served in the Navy from 1979 to 2003 and then in public service as a peace officer in Florida and in Texas after that. He served in Edwards County as a deputy under Sheriff Donald Letsinger and Sheriff Pamela Elliot from 2009 through 2014 as a full time officer and from 2014 until his passing as a reserve officer. He then served in Real County as a deputy under both Sheriff Bruce Carr and Sheriff Nathan T. Johnson from 2015 until his passing.
Cox's primary duty station was the Camp Wood area where he served with distinction and honor as a residential deputy.
"I want to say how very much Deputy Mark Cox will be missed in our community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones who grieve. Mark was an excellent peace officer, a patriot, a man of his word, and a friend…… he will be deeply missed by his brothers in arms," Johnson said in a statement.
Funeral Services will be held at the Baptist Church in Barksdale, Texas located at 200 Church St, Barksdale, TX 78828 on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m.
