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James Duane Hoff
Patrolman

James Duane Hoff

Reno Police Department — Reno, NV
Felonious
United States flag Nevada flag
End of Watch June 25, 1979
Age 33
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 121 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 11

Incident

Patrolman James Hoff was stabbed to death after being abducted during an undercover narcotics transaction. Patrolman Hoff was posing as a drug dealer and had agreed to meet a buyer later in the night to conduct a transaction. The buyer and an accomplice, however, were planning on murdering the dealer and recruited two additional accomplices. Shortly after Patrolman Hoff met the buyer, the surveillance equipment in his car malfunctioned and his backup officers were unable to hear what was occurring. The suspects were able to abduct him and stabbed him to death before dumping his body near the Dog Valley Road summit. All four suspects, ages 16 to 20, were convicted of Patrolman Hoff's murder. The 20-year-old suspect was sentenced to death. On Oct. 27, 2011, the Nevada State Supreme Court upheld his conviction for the third time. He is the longest-serving inmate on Nevada's death row. The other three suspects were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Patrolman Hoff had served with the Reno Police Department for seven years.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hoff gave the Reno Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Reno community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hoff.

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

Agency

Department Reno Police Department
Type Other
Location Reno, Washoe County, NV
Platform Identity rpd.washoe.nv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 25, 1979
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 33. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Reno Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman James Duane Hoff

Reno Police Department · End of Watch June 25, 1979

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W

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