Police Officer Donald W. Coulter
Detroit Police Department
Michigan
End of Watch: Saturday, January 11, 1958

Biographical Info
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, January 11, 1958
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Died in prison

Officer Coulter was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery at a local bar. Officer Coulter, who was in plainclothes, entered the bar and was confronted by four suspects, three men and a woman. They took his wallet then, thinking he was the bar owner, ordered him to open the safe. When he told them he could not open it they shot him with a shotgun. Two of the suspects were captured 30 minutes later. The other two were captured the next day in Forrest City, Arkansas.

The suspect who killed Officer Coulter was convicted of first degree murder and armed robbery and sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison on May 8, 1958. He died in prison on August 15, 1994.

Officer Coulter had served with the Detroit Police Department for 11 years.