Detective Kenneth Joseph McCoy

Detective Kenneth Joseph McCoy | East St. Louis Police Department, Illinois
East St. Louis Police Department, Illinois
Detective Kenneth Joseph McCoy

East St. Louis Police Department, Illinois

End of Watch Thursday, June 7, 1973

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Kenneth Joseph McCoy

Detective Kenneth McCoy was shot and killed in crossfire during a shootout with several suspects.

Detective McCoy and several other officers were conducting a stakeout of a tavern that was reportedly going to be robbed. While watching the tavern local neighborhood kids told one of the officers there was a group of men with guns nearby. The four officers then went to the tavern owner's home, thinking that the robbery was going to occur there.

Detective McCoy changed clothes with the tavern owner and then went to the driveway and pretended to examine a car. The group of men approached and shots were exchanged. During the ensuing shootout one of the suspects was killed and Detective McCoy was struck by a round fired by another officer with his own gun he had loaned him.

Detective McCoy had served with the East St. Louis Police Department for four years and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was survived by his expectant wife, son and daughter.

Bio

  • Age 27
  • Tour 4 years
  • Badge 62
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire (Inadvertent)
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I am your sons wife. I wish I could have known you, but I somehow feel I do. I have your picture, oddly it looks very much like the picture on this memorial above, but somehow different. The difference is, Kenny, your son, my husband, looks so much like you in the picture we have. Your eyes, your mouth, your neck, yet the picture in your obituary doesn’t except for your neck. I know this sounds odd in the way I’m describing a picture but for some reason I feel the need to include that sentence. Mary Lou continued your journey as parents and I know why you picked her to be the Mother of your children. She was and is an amazing Mother. I also think you gave her some help and guided her and Andy together. He stepped in and was patient and loving to your children. They have become his own without respectfully making sure you are remembered. You would be very proud and grateful to him. I have one last thing to say until we meet,...thank you for the gift you gave to me, my husband. I think he is very much like you and I know you would be so proud of the man he has become. He thinks of you often and has never missed a birthday visit to where you rest since I have known him. You are in Kenny’s heart and therefore my own. God Bless You.
Your Daughter in Law, Jenny

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Daughter in law

October 3, 2019

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