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Benjamin J. Koles
Incident
Location: Michigan Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available
Railroad Detective Benjamin Koles was shot and killed while patrolling the railroad yards near Lynch Road and Mt. Elliott Street in Detroit, Michigan.
A railroad employee located his body, which was suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen, on a railroad truck.
Detective Koles was U.S. Navy veteran of WWI.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmkkndst4de2792vxe53- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Benjamin is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Railroad Detective Koles served with the Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Benjamin J. Koles served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department has lost 6 officers; 5 of them killed feloniously.
Benjamin is one of 415 officers killed feloniously in MI, 59% of the 703 remembered there.
Benjamin is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Benjamin is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1930, 1 officer at Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1930, 14 officers in MI were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1930, 239 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1930, 241 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Benjamin was 33. Of the 5 killed feloniously at Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 39; the middle age was 33.
Benjamin was 33. Of the 400 killed feloniously in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 35.
Benjamin was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Benjamin was 33. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
September holds 20% of these deaths at Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department; January holds the most, 20%. Mondays: 20%.
September holds 8.2% of these deaths in MI; December holds the most, 12.3%. Mondays: 14.9%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 83.3% of all 6 deaths at Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 40% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 703 deaths in MI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 5.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
His people
Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department has 6 officers remembered here, Benjamin among them.
Where
Military Service
Benjamin J. Koles served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit Benjamin J. Koles’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
