Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Coats was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had failed to return to court to pay a fine on public drunkenness. Marshal Coates and a friend went to a hotel room where the suspect was staying and ordered him to come out. The suspect, however, was in a room across the hall and fired four shots through the door, striking Marshal Coats three times. Marshal Coats' friend picked up the marshal's gun and then took the suspect into custody. The suspect later died in prison.
Survivors
Marshal Coats was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-0C42E98B- 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.
City Marshal Coats served with the Pryor Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pryor community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Coats.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal James Coats 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 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. James Coats's cause is highlighted.
How James Coats Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Coats is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Coats was killed by gun; unknown type.