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Patrolman

John Coffey

Millston Police Department — Millston, WI

Accident Veteran

End of Watch October 27, 1979

Age 25

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman John Coffey was killed in an automobile accident while responding to an assistance call on Route 12. His squad car overturned about six miles south of Black River Falls. He was transported to LaCrosse Hospital, where he was dead upon arrival. Patrolman Coffey was a United States Army Vietnam Military Police veteran who had served with the Millston Police Department for only three weeks and previously served with the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Survivors

He is survived by his aunt, uncle, two brothers, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-5AC7AAFC
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.
Patrolman Coffey gave the Millston Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Millston 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

Department Millston Police Department

Location Millston, WI

Platform Identity mpd.jackson.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 27, 1979

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

John Coffey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman John Coffey is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WI, 124 of 317 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

Millston Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Accident

WI — Statewide

124

of 317 officers

39.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Coffey's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How John Coffey Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

Years of Service