Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Hermon Personius was shot and killed while investigating the robbery of a train. The operator of the train that was robbed called ahead to another operator to alert the police of the incident and to be on the lookout when the train arrived in Valley City. Policeman Personius, the chief, another officer, and a civilian, met the train when it arrived and began searching it. Policeman Personius caught one man and turned him over to the other officer. He began searching inside another boxcar and was shot twice as he shined his light into the car. The shooter fled into the darkness and was never seen again. A man was charged with his murder but freed when he proved he was somewhere else. On December 28, 1906, the man Policeman Personius caught was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. Policeman Personius had served with the Valley City Police Department for two and a half years. He was survived by his wife, five sons, and two daughters. He was buried in Hillside Cemetery in Valley City.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, five sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-ND-0A73A474- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policeman Personius gave the Valley City Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Valley City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Personius.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman Hermon Myron Personius 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 ND, 39 of 61 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 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. Hermon Myron Personius's cause is highlighted.
How Hermon Myron Personius Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hermon Myron Personius is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hermon Myron Personius was killed by handgun.