Boston, MA – The State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) is finding several ways to honor their former member, Detective Lieutenant William “Billy” Coulter. Coulter was a longtime chairman of the charitable association Cops for Kids with Cancer which supported families dealing with childhood cancer, as well as being a top-notch trooper, investigator and triathlete, among numerous other roles.

Coulter was a SPAM member for much of his almost 45-year career with the Massachusetts State Police. He began on the road in Troop C where his patrolling skills were legendary. He became a member of Major Crimes where he honed his investigative skills and was particularly impacted by the children who faced daily threats of gun violence in numerous communities. Coulter’s physical fitness passion was a cornerstone of his life so becoming an instructor at the Massachusetts State Police Academy was an excellent match for him. The gym at the facility was named in his honor as the William “Iron Man” Coulter Gym. The Iron Man was in recognition of the multiple triathlons in which he participated during his lifetime. Detective Lieutenant Coulter completed more than 150 marathons including once breaking “3 hours” in the Boston Marathon, coming in at 2:58. In addition, he competed in 25 full-length Iron Man triathlons, many times in his favored spot in Hawaii.

State Police Association members will have a chance to honor him in a variety of ways. There is a “Run for Billy” on Saturday at D.W. Field Park at 370 Oak Street in Brockton, one of Coulter’s favorite training sites. Check in for the fun run will begin at 10:00 AM and the run itself will begin at 11:00 AM. Donations will be accepted at check in and all proceeds will benefit Coulter’s charity, Cops for Kids with Cancer.

On Sunday, his wake will be held from 3:00 – 7:00 PM at St. James Catholic Church at 560 Page Street in Stoughton, with a law enforcement walk-by at the beginning of the wake. His funeral will be Monday, October 7 at the same location at 11:00 AM. Coulter was the brother-in-law of Detective Lieutenant Steven Bennett (retired) and the uncle of State Police Dispatcher Daniel Puckett at GHQ. The family requests that donations be made in Bill’s name to the charity he loved: Cops for Kids with Cancer, Inc., P.O. Box 850956, Braintree, Massachusetts 02185.