Roll of Honor
Incident
Undersheriff Coleman and his brother, Deputy Charles Coleman of the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, were shot and killed by two outlaws armed with Winchester rifles. On September 25, 1881, the two suspects shot and killed Sheriff John Lammy, of the Calhoun County, Illinois, Sheriff's Department, as the sheriff and his deputies attempted to arrest them for the murders of Undersheriff Milton Coleman and Deputy Charles Coleman. The two suspects were the notorious Williams brothers, Lon and Ed. Robbers and murderers for years, they were regarded by Wisconsin citizens as being as great as Frank and Jesse James. On November 7, 1881, Ed was captured in Grand Island, Kansas. He was taken to Durand where he was seized by an angry mob and hanged from a tree. On October 29, 1882, Lon was captured in Dodge City, Kansas, and returned to Wisconsin. He mysteriously disappeared from the Durand jail. Undersheriff Coleman was survived by his wife and eight children. He was a Civil War Veteran having served the Union as a private in the 10th Wisconsin Infantry, Company D.
Survivors
Undersheriff Coleman was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-35EB4831- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Undersheriff Coleman gave the Dunn County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Menomonie community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Milton A. Coleman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Undersheriff Milton A. Coleman 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Dunn County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Milton A. Coleman's cause is highlighted.
How Milton A. Coleman Compares
Offender Outcome
One lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Milton A. Coleman is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Milton A. Coleman was killed by handgun; revolver.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Dunn County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
