Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Roy Woofter succumbed to a gunshot wound received the previous day when he and other officers attempted to arrest a man for selling illegal alcohol from his home. The subject let the officers into his home and then barricaded himself in another room. He shot Marshal Woofter through a window. The 36-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to death. In 1913 the New Mexico Supreme Court granted him a new trial. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 99 years. He was pardoned by Acting Governor Antonio Lucero on December 21, 1918, with the condition that he leave New Mexico and never return. Marshal Woofter had served with the Roswell Police Department as Marshal for one year and previously served with the Albia Police Department in Iowa and in West Virginia. He was survived by his wife. He is buried in Oakview Cemetery in Albia, Iowa.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NM-5A51BC47- 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.
Marshal Woofter gave the Roswell Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roswell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Woofter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Marshal Roy Woofter 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 NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 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. Roy Woofter's cause is highlighted.
How Roy Woofter Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1918
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Woofter is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roy Woofter was killed by gun; unknown type.