1983

February 23, 1983
Gunfire  @ 12600 Memorial 

DOB 4/8/1946, Age 36
Badge – 1415
Class #75
Final Resting Place –    Florissant, Missouri  

On February 23, 1983, Officer Charles Robert Coates, II, passed away from injuries he sustained in an accident that occurred on May 2, 1982. Officer Coates was investigating a traffic accident when he was struck by a car at the 12600 block of Memorial, about 8:30 p.m. on May 2, 1982. He received massive head and other internal injuries in the incident, and was taken to Hermann Hospital by Life Flight Helicopter. Life Flight spokesman, Tony Delaney, stated that Officer Coates was scheduled to undergo surgery. Fellow officers donated blood to help in the treatment of Officer Coates.

A witness stated that a lady was driving around the accident being investigated, that was in the left lane, and her left front bumper struck Officer Coates. The 52-year-old lady pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, and was given a 10-year, probated sentence with a 1,000 dollar fine.

Funeral arrangements were at the Heights Funeral Home and his body was shipped to St. Louis, Missouri, for burial.

Officer Coates was a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and had worked as a police officer there. He joined the Houston Police Department on September 13, 1976, and worked out of the Northwest Patrol Division as a patrolman. Survivors of Officer C.L. Coates included his wife, Betty; daughter, Christine; parents, Charles and Jacqueline Coates; grandmother, Catherine Graham; sister, Carolyn Alexander; and brother, John Coates.

Source – Houston Police Department Museum Files