Roll of Honor
Incident
Fatally wounded when shot nine times attempting to arrest an armed suspect. In June he was on patrol in Reading town centre when he saw a car driving erratically. Stopping the vehicle he radioed for assistance when two men emerged from the car and shot him nine times at almost point blank range. The car had just been used to steal guns and ammunition from a private school in Croydon. Hospitalised he died of injuries roughly a month later in hospital. Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry.
Died in hospital nearly four weeks after being shot nine times after stopping a car being driven erratically in King’s Road, Reading, on 27th June. As he called for assistance two men emerged from the car and shot him at almost point-blank range. The car had just been used to steal guns and ammunition from a private school in Croydon. Posthumously awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Constable Coward served with the Thames Valley Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Constable Coward.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Constable Ian Coward 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 97,775 officers honored here.
In ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Thames Valley Police, 4 of 22 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 18.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ian Coward's cause is highlighted.
How Ian Coward Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ian Coward is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from Thames Valley Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
