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Bobby Lee Coggins
Agency patch
Trooper

Bobby Lee Coggins

North Carolina Highway Patrol — Raleigh, NC
Felonious
United States flag North Carolina flag
End of Watch September 14, 1985
Age 26
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge G-151
The Vigil Panel 130 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 68

Incident

Trooper Bobby Coggins was shot and killed after stopping two Arkansas prison escapees in a stolen pickup truck near Hot Springs, North Carolina, on N.C. 209. He had initiated the traffic stop after suspecting the driver was a possible DUI. After dispatchers advised Trooper Coggins that the two were escapees one of the men opened fire with a .25 caliber handgun. Trooper Coggins attempted to return fire but did not strike the suspects. The second suspect picked up Trooper Coggins gun and shot him in the head. Both suspects were captured three days later after trackers and a bloodhound named "Brandy" forced them out of the Blue Ridge Mountains into the hands of waiting agents of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. All the officers involved in the search and arrest gave all the credit to "Brandy". Both suspects, 23, were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life plus 93 years on May 21, 1986. Minutes before Trooper Coggins was killed his fiancee had driven past him as he stopped the suspects. Trooper Coggins had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for one year and had also served as a seasonal park ranger for the National Park Service during the previous two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his fiancee, brother and parents.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Coggins gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Coggins.

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

Agency

Department North Carolina Highway Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location Raleigh, NC
Platform Identity nchp.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1985
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 26
Badge Number G-151
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Bobby is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1985, 99 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Bobby was 26. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Bobby had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

North Carolina Highway Patrol has 69 officers remembered here, Bobby among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Bobby Lee Coggins

North Carolina Highway Patrol · End of Watch September 14, 1985

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 64-W

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