James C. Coldiron

Lynch Police Department — Lynch, KY

Felonious

End of Watch July 15, 1921

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 41 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Policeman James Coldiron and Chief William Holcomb were shot and killed while investigating a complaint that a miner had brought a firearm into the U.S. Coal and Coke Company mine.

The mine foreman had caught the man with the gun and reported it to the police chief. The chief, Policeman Coldiron, and the foreman located the man, along with three other men, in the company's bathhouse. As they spoke all four men opened fire, killing Chief Holcomb, Policeman Coldiron, and the foreman.

Two of the suspects were wounded by return fire and all four were taken into custody. All four were tried and acquitted. In 1932 one was shot and killed in Harlan County. In 1933 two were charged with another murder in Harlan County. One of them died before the trial.

Policeman Coldiron was survived by his wife and four children, and his parents.

Survivors

Policeman Coldiron was survived by his wife and four children, and his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-BC1093BA
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.
Policeman Coldiron served with the Lynch Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lynch community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Coldiron.

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

Agency

Department Lynch Police Department

Location Lynch, KY

Platform Identity lyncpd.harlan.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 15, 1921

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Acquitted

Policeman James C. Coldiron 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Lynch Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Lynch Police Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious