Donald W. Coulter

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious

End of Watch January 11, 1958

Age 38

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Badge 203

The Vigil Panel 93 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Officer Coulter was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery at Prince Royal Bar at 3057 Gratiot Ave. Officer Coulter, who was in plainclothes, entered the bar and was confronted by four suspects, three men and a woman. They took his wallet and then, thinking he was the bar owner, ordered him to open the safe. When he told them he could not open it they shot him with a shotgun. Two of the suspects were captured 30 minutes later. The other two were captured the next day in Forrest City, Arkansas. The suspect who killed Officer Coulter was convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery and sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison on May 8, 1958. He died in prison on August 15, 1994. Officer Coulter had served with the Detroit Police Department for 11 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-5B62F22A
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 Donald. 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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Coulter gave the Detroit Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Coulter.

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

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department

Location Detroit, MI

Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 11, 1958

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 38

Badge Number 203

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Died in prison

Police Officer Donald 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department

177

of 250 officers

70.8% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious