Daniel J. Coughlin
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

Daniel J. Coughlin

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch January 4, 1923
Age 50
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Badge 403
The Vigil Panel 44 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Daniel Coughlin was shot and killed after he and several other officers responded to a robbery at a downtown hotel on Monroe Street near Campus Martius. When they arrived on the scene, Sergeant Coughlin was shot as he questioned four men in a vehicle. He fell into the vehicle after being shot. One of the officers fired at the vehicle as the men fled, wounding one of the suspects. Sergeant Coughlin's body was found in the vehicle a short distance away. All four men were apprehended. Sergeant Coughlin had served with the Detroit Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, six daughters, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmry49t0z90wk10714be
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Daniel. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Coughlin gave the Detroit Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Coughlin.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 4, 1923
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 50
Badge Number 403
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Daniel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1923, 199 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Daniel was 50. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Daniel had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Detroit Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Daniel among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Sergeant Daniel J. Coughlin

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch January 4, 1923

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 11-W

↑