Jasper N. Coghlan
Agency patch
Deputized Civilian

Jasper N. Coghlan

Felonious
End of Watch September 8, 1888
Age 52
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 9 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Jasper Coghlan was shot and killed after being deputized by the Wise County sheriff to assist with the arrest of three men wanted in Parker County.

The three men, two brothers and a friend, were at the home of the father of the two brothers. When the deputies arrived at the scene, the men opened fire with Winchester rifles, fatally wounding Deputy Coghlan. Another man at the house was wounded in the leg by return fire.

The three suspects escaped but were eventually apprehended. The suspect thought to have shot Deputy Coghlan was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Deputy Coghlan had served with the agency for 1 day.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-77EA40D8
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputized Civilian Coghlan served with the Wise County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Decatur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Decatur, Wise County, TX
Platform Identity wcso.wise.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 8, 1888
Tour of Duty
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; Winchester

Deputized Civilian Jasper N. Coghlan 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Wise County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Wise County Sheriff's Office
3
of 4 officers
75% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. Jasper N. Coghlan's cause is highlighted.

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

How Jasper N. Coghlan Compares

Age at Death
52
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jasper N. Coghlan is highlighted in Sep.

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. Jasper N. Coghlan was killed by rifle; winchester.

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