Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Hoyt was shot and killed in the County Courthouse when three prisoners being led to a courtroom attempted to escape. The three, who were manacled to each other, attacked another deputy, grabbed his gun and opened fire. Deputy Hoyt, who was not armed, was shot in the chest. Before he collapsed he managed to stagger to a counter where he obtained a gun kept below it, and returned fire, wounding one of the prisoners. Other officers who heard the shots subdued the prisoners. The three were to have been arraigned on charges stemming from an earlier escape from a nearby prison farm. Eleven days later one of the prisoners hanged himself in his cell at San Quentin Prison. It was later determined that one of the other prisoners shot Deputy Hoyt. Both were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 5 years to life July 10, 1969. Deputy Hoyt had been with the Lake County Sheriff's Department for two years. He had retired from the Berkeley Police Department after 27 years of service.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-CA-FF778CD8- Stewardship
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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
29 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Hoyt gave the Lake County Sheriff's Office 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Lakeport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hoyt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William David Hoyt 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lake County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William David Hoyt's cause is highlighted.
How William David Hoyt Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 5 years to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William David Hoyt is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William David Hoyt was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Lake County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
