Robert Ball Noechel

West Virginia State Police — South Charleston, WV

Felonious

End of Watch November 1, 1965

Age 33

The Vigil Panel 100 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Trooper Noechel was shot and killed in Keyser, West Virginia, as he, another trooper, and a Mineral County deputy attempted to arrest a man on weapon's charges. The officers were given a key to the man's home by the man's wife, whom he had threatened with a shotgun earlier in the day. The officers entered the home and proceeded into the home single file, with Trooper Noechel in the lead position. The suspect suddenly appeared and fired one shot from a .12 gauge shotgun, striking Trooper Noechel in the chest. The suspect surrendered a short time later after tear gas was fired into the home. The suspect, 48, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison February 4, 1966. He was denied a new trial in 1977.

Survivors

Trooper Noechel He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-F64C50C9
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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.
Trooper Noechel served with the West Virginia State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Noechel.

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

Agency

Department West Virginia State Police

Location South Charleston, WV

Platform Identity wvsp.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 1, 1965

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Sentenced to life

Trooper Robert Ball Noechel 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At West Virginia State Police, 21 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia State Police

of 42 officers

50% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious