Dormont Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Sunday, December 25, 1921
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 25, 1921
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Officer Coghill was shot and killed after he and another officer arrested two men suspected of being involved in a burglary. The two men were placed in a patrol wagon to be taken to jail. One of the men drew a concealed revolver and fired three shots. Officer Coghill was fatally wounded and the other officer was grazed by a round.
The suspect was sentenced to death but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison. He was died in prison when he was accidentally crushed by a service truck at the prison's loading dock.
Officer Coghill was a US Army veteran of WWI. He had served in law enforcement for two years and was survived by his wife.