Herman William Nofs
Agency patch
Deputy Marshal

Herman William Nofs

Youngtown Police Department — Youngtown, AZ
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch August 4, 1965
Age 71
Tour of Duty 35 yrs
The Vigil Panel 100 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal Herman Nofs was shot and killed by two burglary suspects at a gas station at 111th Avenue and Grand Avenue in Youngtown. Marshal Herman Nofs was on patrol when he noticed broken glass at a gas station. When he approached the two suspects, ages seventeen and nineteen, with his weapon drawn, the 19-year-old slugged him and knocked his gun to the ground. The other suspect took the gun and shot him with his own gun. Both suspects were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on February 9, 1966. The Arizona Supreme Court overturned the 17-year-old suspect's conviction and ordered a new trial. On July 29, 1968, he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison. Marshal Nofs was a United States Army World War I veteran who served with the Illinois State Police for 31 years and was Youngtown's first Marshal. He had retired and would work one or two days a week as a deputy marshal.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-35B34382
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Marshal Nofs gave the Youngtown Police Department 35 years.
Thank you for your service to the Youngtown community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Youngtown, AZ
Platform Identity ypd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 4, 1965
Tour of Duty 35 yrs
Age 71
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Herman William Nofs served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Marshal Herman William Nofs is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Youngtown Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
AZ — Statewide
204
of 330 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herman William Nofs's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Herman William Nofs Compares

Age at Death
71
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herman William Nofs is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herman William Nofs was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Herman William Nofs served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Herman William Nofs’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Youngtown Police Department are honored on badge.nw.