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NORTH ATTLEBORO -- Capt. Daniel Coyle, a veteran police officer who was known as much for his affable personality as for law enforcement professionalism, will be missed as a friend and symbol of the town, those who knew him said Friday.

Coyle, 51, died suddenly Thursday. The son of former Police Chief John Coyle, the cause of his death was not made public.

"He was very well liked by everyone, a gentleman and a kind person," said state Rep. Betty Poirier, who worked closely with Coyle when he was in charge of the town's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program educating children about the dangers of substance abuse.

"The kids all loved him. My heart goes out to his family," Poirier said.

Coyle, who followed his father's lead as a law enforcement professional, came up through the ranks, becoming a sergeant and lieutenant and eventually captain. Friends and townspeople said Coyle exuded the quiet professionalism of a police officer, mixed with ample helpings of empathy and concern.

"Captain Coyle was a very dedicated and highly respected member of the North Attleboro Police Department," Police Chief Michael Gould said in a brief statement. "Captain Coyle served the town of North Attleboro in various capacities in his 28 years of distinguished services."

Gould said funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. On Friday, all town flags were ordered lowered to half staff in memory of the longtime officer.

Coyle was well known for his work with with the town's young people, especially in warning them against the dangers of drugs and alcohol and in reaching out to build rapport between youngsters and police.

On the day he died, Coyle had been working a detail for the annual North Attleboro Kids Day celebration at Mason Field.

Former school Superintendent Rick Smith said the extent of Coyle's contributions to the thousands of town children who attended the DARE program as fifth graders will probably never be known.

"He was a teacher as well as a role model," said Smith, who noted that the oldest among Coyle's DARE graduates are now entering their late 20s. "We'll probably never be able to determine where the impact of his influence ends."

Janelle Shruhan, one of many who attended Coyle's DARE programs, remembers the policeman as perpetually interested in the welfare of young people and never being too busy to take time out for a child.

"Captain Coyle was a hometown hero, a really nice guy," Shruhan said. "Later, when I was in sixth grade, I ran into him in the market and he took time to ask me about school."

Shruhan said she mentioned that she was due to deliver a class presentation about an Italian Christmas, and asked the veteran cop if he'd like to come. No further urging needed, Coyle showed up at the girl's classroom to listen to her lecture. Town Administrator Mark Fisher said that when Coyle arrived at the DARE summer camp program, "he was like the pied piper - all of the kids would follow him around all over the place."

Fisher said Coyle's impact as a DARE officer is immeasurable.

"As a father, I remember when Danny started the DARE program in town. I was fortunate enough to have several kids go through the program he ran, and I know what a tremendous impact it made not only on them, but on hundreds of children in the town," Fisher said.

Coyle was well known throughout town, and friends and associates were mourning his loss. Nowhere was that loss more acute than the police department.

"In my years on the board of selectmen and working as town administrator, I always found Danny to be the consummate professional," Fisher said. "He was always well prepared when he gave a presentation.

"As a cop, he had a soft demeanor - he wasn't a hard-nosed person - and that combined with his professionalism made him a tremendous officer," Fisher said.

Selectmen Chairman Paul Belham was among those stunned by the loss of Coyle.

"He will certainly be missed by the town as a whole. He made such an impact on the town. There wasn't a kid in town whose life he didn't touch. He was active in DARE in its early years," Belham said. "He was my neighbor and we talked all the time in passing, especially about fly fishing, which he got into recently."

Coyle and his wife, Carole, lived in North Attleboro. The couple had no children.

In his private life, Coyle was modest but active in community events.

Prior to the 1996 summer Olympics, Coyle was one of five local heroes chosen to carry the Olympic torch through the Attleboros in a relay witnessed by thousands who lined Route 1 for the event.

Coyle was a proud 1976 graduate of Bishop Feehan High School, said school President Christopher Servant, who had Coyle as a student in one of his classes there.

"He was a good student, quiet, and he always had a smile on his face," Servant said, adding that Coyle continued to show support for his alma mater through attendance at many school events.

"This is a very sad day for Feehan," he said.

Servant said he, himself, was the recipient of Coyle's kindness after Servant's mother died in an automobile accident last year in Florida.

When Servant reached home that day, he was met by his parish priest and Capt. Coyle, who had arrived to bring his former teacher the news and words of comfort.

"Dan was always considerate of people's feelings, a real gentleman," Servant said. "He was a true friend and ambassador for the town of North Attleboro."