Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal John Hays was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for a domestic disturbance. The suspect shot Marshal Hays in the neck with a Springfield rifle. Although fatally wounded, the marshal was able to return fire and wounded the suspect. The suspect surrendered to citizens the same day and came close to being lynched. In June 1904 he was found guilty of Second Degree Murder and sentenced to life at hard labor in the Idaho State Penitentiary. He was paroled in 1909 and fully pardoned in 1910. Marshal Hays was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for capturing the enemy flag on April 16, 1865, in Columbus, Georgia.
Survivors
He had served in law enforcement for 10 years and was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-ID-34E33BCE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Marshal Hays gave the Troy Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Troy 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Henry Hays served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Marshal John Henry Hays 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 ID, 44 of 71 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62% of this state's fallen. That is 7.8 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. John Henry Hays's cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Hays Compares
Offender Outcome
Guilty of Second Degree Murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Hays is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Henry Hays was killed by rifle.