Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal Robert Coulter was shot and mortally wounded by a man he attempted to arrest on a warrant for disturbing the peace.
After the suspect shot Marshal Coulter twice in the stomach, he ran up the street and shot and killed the local justice of the peace. A mob of angry citizens shot and killed the suspect. Marshal Coulter died two days later.
City Marshal Coulter was a Union Civil War Veteran who was a corporal in the 30th Iowa Infantry, Company D.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-4E4BE063- 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.
City Marshal Coulter served with the Farmington Marshal's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Farmington 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
Robert W. Coulter served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
City Marshal Robert W. Coulter 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Farmington Marshal's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert W. Coulter's cause is highlighted.
How Robert W. Coulter Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert W. Coulter is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert W. Coulter was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Farmington Marshal's Office are honored on badge.nw.
