Noel Don McGuire
Agency patch
Detective

Noel Don McGuire

Little Rock Police Department — Little Rock, AR
Felonious
End of Watch May 14, 1980
Age 23
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 122 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Noel Don McGuire was shot and killed while working a vice detail. Detective McGuire had stopped a suspicious vehicle at Roosevelt and Arch Streets that ran a red light and questioned the subjects around 3:15 a.m. As he returned to his cruiser, one of the subjects shot him in the back, leg, and stomach. Detective McGuire was able to call for help on his radio. Unbeknownst to him, the suspects had just committed an armed robbery in a neighboring county, shooting the clerk. Both suspects were arrested five hours later at a roadblock in Oklahoma by state police officers. Both, 15 and 16, were wanted for questioning in Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin about several crimes. The 15-year-old shooter and his 16-year-old accomplice were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. As of December 13, 2022, the 15-year-old, now 57, was in prison. He has committed 19 major disciplinary violations. Detective McGuire had served with the Little Rock Police Department for five years. He was survived by his parents. Among those in attendance at his funeral were then-governor and future U.S. President Bill Clinton. Don met with Gov. Clinton when he applied for a job with the Capitol and Governor's security force. In 1982, the Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #17 changed its name to the Noel Don Mcguire Memorial Lodge# 17.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-DD5281BD
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.
Detective McGuire gave the Little Rock Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Little Rock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective McGuire.

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

Agency

Location Little Rock, AR
Platform Identity lrpd.pulaski.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 14, 1980
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber
Offender traffic stop

Detective Noel Don McGuire 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Little Rock Police Department, 19 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 82.6% of this agency's fallen.

Little Rock Police Department
19
of 23 officers
82.6% Felonious
AR — Statewide
249
of 372 officers
66.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Noel Don McGuire's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Noel Don McGuire Compares

Age at End of Watch
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

traffic stop

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Noel Don McGuire is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Noel Don McGuire was killed by handgun; .357 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location