Roll of Honor
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
BO-US-RR-3DF4BD07- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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 United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Railroad Detective Benjamin J. Koles is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin J. Koles's cause is highlighted.
How Benjamin J. Koles Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin J. Koles is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benjamin J. Koles was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
