Ian Coward QPM

Died

23 July 1971

Age

Rank

Detective Constable

Force

Thames Valley Police

Cause

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

On Duty

Circumstances

Fatally wounded when shot nine times attempting to arrest an armed suspect.

In June he was on patrol in Reading town centre when he saw a car driving erratically. Stopping the vehicle he radioed for assistance when two men emerged from the car and shot him nine times at almost point blank range.

The car had just been used to steal guns and ammunition from a private school in Croydon. Hospitalised he died of injuries roughly a month later in hospital.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry.

Died in hospital nearly four weeks after being shot nine times after stopping a car being driven erratically in King’s Road, Reading, on 27th June. As he called for assistance two men emerged from the car and shot him at almost point-blank range. The car had just been used to steal guns and ammunition from a private school in Croydon. Posthumously awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry.