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Police Officer

William Novak

Dickson City Police Department — Dickson City, PA

Felonious

End of Watch September 17, 1931

Age 31

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Officer Novak was shot and killed at a school board meeting by the city school director. Officer Novak was sent to the meeting due to ill feelings among board members over a recent election. The suspect said his revolver accidentally discharged when Officer Novak pushed him. He was tried for murder and acquitted. Officer Novak had served with the agency for 5 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-FFADE4D3
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.
Police Officer Novak gave the Dickson City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dickson City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Novak.

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

Agency

Department Dickson City Police Department

Location Dickson City, PA

Platform Identity dpd.lackawanna.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 17, 1931

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Acquitted

Police Officer William Novak 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 Dickson City Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Dickson City Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% 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. William Novak'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 William Novak Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Novak is highlighted in Sep.

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. William Novak was killed by handgun; revolver.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Dickson City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.