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
BO-US-MI-C8571A9B
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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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

Detective Sergeant Daniel J. Coughlin is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department
177
of 250 officers
70.8% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 719 officers
59.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daniel J. Coughlin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Daniel J. Coughlin Compares

Age at Death
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
18
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel J. Coughlin is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Daniel J. Coughlin was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location