Roll of Honor
Incident
Undersheriff Matthew DeVane was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three tramps who had just stolen a barrel of liquor. Undersheriff DeVane located the men at the intersection of Main Street and 2nd Street. As he began to search the men one of them pulled out a gun and fatally shot him. The three men were eventually apprehended. The subject who killed Undersheriff DeVane was convicted of his murder and sent to prison. On November 3rd, 1901, he and another prisoner overpowered a guard, took several guns, and escaped from Yuma Prison. Later in the day the man was shot and killed near Fortuna during a gunfight with a posse that caught up with him.
Survivors
Undersheriff DeVane was survived by his brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-E83CE05F- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Undersheriff DeVane served with the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Yuma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff DeVane.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Undersheriff Matthew B. DeVane 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 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 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Yuma County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Matthew B. DeVane's cause is highlighted.
How Matthew B. DeVane Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Matthew B. DeVane is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Matthew B. DeVane was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Yuma County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
