Roll of Honor
Incident
Substitute Officer Charles Coots was shot and killed after arresting a suspect for disorderly behavior. Officer Coots was walking the Pine Street beat and was called to a house to quiet a disturbance. Officer Coots moved two suspects along and resumed his patrol. Officer Coots was later called to another disturbance involving the two suspects. He placed one suspect under arrest and while he was walking the suspect to the City Hall Police Station, he was shot and killed by the second suspect at the corner of Brenham Place and Clay Street. Both suspects were captured and charged with murder. The suspect who fired the shot at Officer Coots was executed by hanging on April 26th, 1878, exactly one year after the murder. Officer Coots had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 18 months. He was survived by his wife and several children. In 1902 Officer Coots' photograph was installed at the San Francisco Police Headquarters, along with four other officers killed in the line of duty, where it was displayed until the California earthquake of 1906 when all of the portraits were lost.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-9E098980- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Charles. 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
149 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Substitute Officer Coots gave the San Francisco Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Substitute Officer Charles J. Coots 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles J. Coots's cause is highlighted.
How Charles J. Coots Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1878
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles J. Coots is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles J. Coots was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
