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Patrolman

Hugh Nichols

Nampa Police Department — Nampa, ID

Felonious

End of Watch October 5, 1931

Age 45

Tour of Duty 4 mo

The Vigil Panel 63 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Hugh Nichols was shot and killed by a burglar at a local Ford dealership at the intersection of 11th Avenue and 3rd Street South at approximately 3:00 am. It is believed that he discovered the back door of the building open and then proceeded to the front of the building. With his gun drawn, and his flashlight on, he began looking through the front windows when he was shot once in the head by a .32 caliber round. The suspect(s) fled and were never apprehended. Patrolman Nichols' body was found by a milkman at 6:00 am the following morning. Patrolman Nichols had served with the Nampa Police Department for only four months. He had previously served as a detective for the Union Pacific Railroad Police.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-ID-2AB13538
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.
Patrolman Nichols served with the Nampa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Nampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Nichols.

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

Agency

Department Nampa Police Department

Location Nampa, ID

Platform Identity npd.canyon.id.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 5, 1931

Tour of Duty 4 mo

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Never apprehended

Patrolman Hugh Nichols 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%.

Nampa Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

ID — Statewide

of 71 officers

62% 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. Hugh Nichols'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 Hugh Nichols Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.3

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Never apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hugh Nichols is highlighted in Oct.

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. Hugh Nichols was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518