Eugene Coon
Encyclopedia
Eugene L. "Gene" Coon was a long-time Sheriff
of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
(serving Pittsburgh and it's immediate suburbs) and an influential figure in the local Democratic party.
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in 1947. He attended University of Pittsburgh
, studying "prelaw."
, where he was a combat infantryman in the lst Calvary Division, serving until 1952. http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19981022coon3.asp
in 1952, and rose through the ranks to assistant superintendent. He was once called "America's Toughest Cop" by a men's magagine. While he was head of the Pittsburgh homicide squad, the unit solved 57 homicides in a row. He resigned from Pittsburgh in 1969 to run as a Democrat for Sheriff
of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
, a position he would hold through seven subsequent elections, ending his career in 1997.
He became chair of the Allegheny County Democratic party in the early 1970's. He also ran unsuccessfully for Allegheny County Commissioner and Pittsburgh Mayor.
Gene gained national recognition on January 3, 1983 when he refused to place homes of unemployed steel workers up for public sale following foreclosure proceedings.
He was named to the Pennsylvania Police Hall of Fame on January 27, 1990 and served as a bagpiper in many a St. Patrick's Day parade. He died in his South Side
home on Oct. 21, 1998, at age 68.
in Pittsburgh that the FBI had kept extensive files on Sheriff Coon beginning in the early to mid 1970's and suspected him of "protecting" and "enforcing" for the Pittsburgh Mob, most notably Tony Grosso
's organization. http://www.wtae.com/r/28019598/detail.html No charges nor public investigation were ever pursued, however the files connect Coon with the same organization that Federal investigators suspected in the death of District Attorney
for Pittsburgh Robert Duggan
in early 1974. Then U.S. District Attorney, and later Governor of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Attorney, Richard Thornburgh chose to close the cases and the investigation by 1975.
second home by a loud birthday party going on next door while he was taking a nap. Pennsylvania State Police
responded after Coon had attempted to have his neighbor quiet the party and exhausted in failing that, fired rifle shots to quiet the party crowd. http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19981022coon3.asp
Allegheny County Sheriff
The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office is a local county law enforcement agency that serves both Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It primarily provides court, warrant, bailiff, and jail/prisoner transport services for the county...
of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
(serving Pittsburgh and it's immediate suburbs) and an influential figure in the local Democratic party.
Early Life
He graduated from, Perry High SchoolPerry Traditional Academy
Perry Traditional Academy is a high school in the northern neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Perry is one of ten high schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.-Statistics:...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in 1947. He attended University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, studying "prelaw."
Army Service
He served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1948, then re-enlisted in 1950 for the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, where he was a combat infantryman in the lst Calvary Division, serving until 1952. http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19981022coon3.asp
Law Enforcement Career
Coon began his career as an officer for the Pittsburgh PolicePittsburgh Police
The Pittsburgh Police, or officially the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, is the largest law enforcement agency in Western Pennsylvania and the third largest in Pennsylvania...
in 1952, and rose through the ranks to assistant superintendent. He was once called "America's Toughest Cop" by a men's magagine. While he was head of the Pittsburgh homicide squad, the unit solved 57 homicides in a row. He resigned from Pittsburgh in 1969 to run as a Democrat for Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
, a position he would hold through seven subsequent elections, ending his career in 1997.
He became chair of the Allegheny County Democratic party in the early 1970's. He also ran unsuccessfully for Allegheny County Commissioner and Pittsburgh Mayor.
Gene gained national recognition on January 3, 1983 when he refused to place homes of unemployed steel workers up for public sale following foreclosure proceedings.
He was named to the Pennsylvania Police Hall of Fame on January 27, 1990 and served as a bagpiper in many a St. Patrick's Day parade. He died in his South Side
South Side (Pittsburgh)
South Side is an area in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, located along the Monongahela River across from Downtown Pittsburgh. The South Side is officially divided into two neighborhoods, South Side Flats and South Side Slopes. Both the Flats and the Slopes are represented on Pittsburgh City...
home on Oct. 21, 1998, at age 68.
FBI Files
It was revealed in 2011 by WTAE-TVWTAE-TV
WTAE-TV is the ABC affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh, broadcasting on UHF channel 51 and identifying via PSIP as channel 4 . It also serves as an ABC affiliate for the Wheeling/Steubenville and Clarksburg/Weston, West Virginia market areas...
in Pittsburgh that the FBI had kept extensive files on Sheriff Coon beginning in the early to mid 1970's and suspected him of "protecting" and "enforcing" for the Pittsburgh Mob, most notably Tony Grosso
Tony Grosso
Tony Grosso was an American bookmaker from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Biography:Anthony M. Grosso was born December 9, 1913. A native of Pittsburgh's Hill District, beginning in 1938, he was involved in running an illegal daily lottery in the area...
's organization. http://www.wtae.com/r/28019598/detail.html No charges nor public investigation were ever pursued, however the files connect Coon with the same organization that Federal investigators suspected in the death of District Attorney
Allegheny County District Attorney
The Allegheny County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of Pennsylvania commonwealth laws....
for Pittsburgh Robert Duggan
Robert Duggan
Robert Duggan served as Allegheny County District Attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from January 1964 until his death in March 1974. -See also:* District Attorney* Pittsburgh Police* Allegheny County Sheriff* Allegheny County Police Department...
in early 1974. Then U.S. District Attorney, and later Governor of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Attorney, Richard Thornburgh chose to close the cases and the investigation by 1975.
Accident
In 1988 Sheriff Coon was involved as a pedestrian in an accident with a car, losing one of his legs because of injuries he had suffered. http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/19981026edcoon2.aspRifle shots at Party
While in his last term as Sheriff in 1994, Coon was disturbed at his suburban Westmoreland CountyWestmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
second home by a loud birthday party going on next door while he was taking a nap. Pennsylvania State Police
Pennsylvania State Police
The Pennsylvania State Police is the state police force of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. It was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, in response to the private police forces used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes and the inability or...
responded after Coon had attempted to have his neighbor quiet the party and exhausted in failing that, fired rifle shots to quiet the party crowd. http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19981022coon3.asp
See also
- District AttorneyDistrict attorneyIn many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
- Pittsburgh PolicePittsburgh PoliceThe Pittsburgh Police, or officially the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, is the largest law enforcement agency in Western Pennsylvania and the third largest in Pennsylvania...
- Allegheny County SheriffAllegheny County SheriffThe Allegheny County Sheriff's Office is a local county law enforcement agency that serves both Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It primarily provides court, warrant, bailiff, and jail/prisoner transport services for the county...