Roll of Honor
Samuel H. Coppedge
Incident
Detective Sergeant Samuel Coppedge and Detective Frank Wodley were shot and killed during a race riot. Earlier in the day, a car occupied by white men had driven through a black area of the city and fired several shots randomly into a group of citizens. An hour later, the detectives were driving through the same area and were mistaken for the original suspects. Several citizens opened fire as the car drove on Bond Avenue, east of 10th Street, killing both detectives and wounding two patrolmen. The shootings sparked a massive race riot in the city. Thirty-eight black citizens and nine white citizens were killed, although it has been argued ever since that the number of black citizens who were killed was much higher. Ten men were convicted of killing Sergeant Samuel Coppedge and sentenced to 14 years. Detective Coppedge had served with the East St. Louis Police Department for at least seven years. He was survived by his wife and son. He is buried at Saint James Cemetery in Saint James, Missouri.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-6337036F- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Coppedge gave the East St. Louis Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the East St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Coppedge.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant Samuel H. Coppedge 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At East St. Louis Police Department, 18 of 22 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel H. Coppedge's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel H. Coppedge Compares
Offender Outcome
Never identified
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel H. Coppedge is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel H. Coppedge was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from East St. Louis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
