Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Humphrey Symons was shot and killed while investigating a domestic disturbance. He was walking passed a house when he heard a commotion inside. When he entered the house the male subject immediately shot him in the head. After Officer Symons fell, the suspect shot him in the head several more times. The suspect attempted to shoot the town marshal as well when the marshal arrived, but was shot in the arm and taken into custody.
The suspect was convicted of Officer Symons' murder and sentenced to death in December of 1879. He was to be hanged on January 16, 1880, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison.
Officer Symons was survived by his expectant wife and one child and is buried in the Masonic Section of Gold Hill Cemerty, Gold Hill, Storey County, Nevada.
Survivors
Officer Symons was survived by his expectant wife and one child and is buried in the Masonic Section of Gold Hill Cemerty, Gold Hill, Storey County, Nevada.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
147 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Symons served with the Gold Hill Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gold Hill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Humphrey Symons is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NV, 81 of 145 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.9% of this state's fallen. That is 1.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Humphrey Symons's cause is highlighted.
How Humphrey Symons Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Humphrey Symons is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Humphrey Symons was killed by handgun.