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Game Warden

Arnold J. Magoon

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department — Montpelier, VT

Felonious

End of Watch April 27, 1978

Age 47

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Badge 939

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Game Warden Arnold Magoon was killed when he was assaulted by a deer poacher on Florence Road in Brandon, Vermont. He stopped a vehicle with three occupants he suspected of poaching deer. One of the men assaulted him during the stop and gained control of his metal flashlight. The man then used the flashlight and struck him several times in the head. The man was convicted of Game Warden Magoon's murder and sentenced to six to 20 years in prison. Game Warden Magoon had served with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VT-7FA49346
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.
Game Warden Magoon gave the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Magoon.

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

Agency

Department Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

Location Montpelier, VT

Platform Identity vfwdcons.washington.vt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1978

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 47

Badge Number 939

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object; Flashlight

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Game Warden Arnold J. Magoon 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 VT, 12 of 31 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.7% of this state's fallen. That is 15.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

VT — Statewide

of 31 officers

38.7% 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. Arnold J. Magoon'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 Arnold J. Magoon 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

Sentenced to 20 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Arnold J. Magoon is highlighted in Apr.

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. Arnold J. Magoon was killed by blunt object; flashlight.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518