Roll of Honor
Incident
Private Joseph Hoffer was succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained five days earlier while he and several other officers attempted to arrest an escapee from the Fayette County Jail. The subject opened fire on the officers from an upstairs window of a house he was hiding in as the officers approached it. The suspect was killed when the officers returned fire. Private Hoffer had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for almost eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-676B5FD7- 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.
Private Hoffer gave the Pennsylvania State Police 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Hoffer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private Joseph Andrew Hoffer 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pennsylvania State Police, 34 of 87 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Andrew Hoffer's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Andrew Hoffer Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Andrew Hoffer is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Andrew Hoffer was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
86 officers from Pennsylvania State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
