Colin McMillan

Northern Pacific Railroad Police Department — St. Paul, MN

Felonious

End of Watch December 31, 1912

Age 30

The Vigil Panel 27 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Location: Montana Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available

Railroad Detective Colin McMillan was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had just attempted to murder a business rival at his home at 516 South Wyoming Street in Butte, Montana.

The subject was seeking revenge because the business rival had reported him to police after he attempted to sell him stolen brass. The man went to the rival's home and shot him through a window as he sat at his table with his children. The subject was chased by one of the victim's friends. Detective McMillan, who was on duty at the nearby Northern Pacific Depot, was shot when he confronted the man.

Two subjects were arrested and held in connection with Detective McMillan's murder and the citizen's attempted murder.

Detective McMillan was survived by his brother.

Survivors

Detective McMillan was survived by his brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-98D9A016
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.
Railroad Detective McMillan served with the Northern Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Railroad Detective McMillan.

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

Agency

Department Northern Pacific Railroad Police Department

Location St. Paul, MN

Platform Identity nprpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 31, 1912

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Railroad Detective Colin McMillan 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Northern Pacific Railroad Police Department, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Northern Pacific Railroad Police Department

of 6 officers

100% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious