Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Walter Coffin was shot and killed as he and a posse attempted to arrest a man wanted for double murder.
The man opened fire on the posse, striking Special Deputy Coffin in the head and killing him. The man then escaped and was never apprehended.
Special Deputy Coffin had been deputized by the county sheriff earlier in the day to help with the arrest.
Special Deputy Coffin, On today, the 140th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Boise County.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol April 18th, 2023
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-ID-E25E0926- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
143 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Deputy Coffin served with the Boise County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Idaho City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Walter Coffin 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 ID, 44 of 71 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62% of this state's fallen. That is 7.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Coffin's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Coffin Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Coffin is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter Coffin was killed by handgun.