RICHMOND – On May 27, 2025, Virginia State Police dedicated its Motor Shed, located at the Virginia State Police Driver Training Complex in Nottoway County, in honor of Senior Trooper Mark Cosslett. Cosslett was killed in the line of duty in 2002 during the Virginia/Maryland/Washington, D.C., sniper attacks. Cosslett, 40, was a motor trooper at the time of his death.
On October 23, 2002, Trooper Cosslett, having just finished standing guard (off-hours) at his son’s pre-school, responded from his office to a call of shots fired on Interstate 95 in the Newington area. As Cosslett approached Springfield on Interstate 95, a tow truck veered into his path, causing a fatal crash.
The shed will be used to store motorcycles to train the next generation of motor troopers.
Cosslett was Virginia State Police’s 51st line of duty death. On May 21, 2025, Virginia State Police held a memorial ceremony to remember the 67 members of Virginia State Police who were killed in the line of duty.
