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Nicki James Erfle
Agency patch
Police Officer

Nicki James Erfle

Phoenix Police Department — Phoenix, AZ
Felonious
United States flag Arizona flag
End of Watch September 18, 2007
Age 33
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 156 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 46

Incident

Officer Nick Erfle was shot after he and his partner approached three people for jaywalking and obstructing traffic on 24th Street, one block north of Thomas Road.

One man gave a fictitious name that had a misdemeanor warrant and as they attempted to take him into custody, the suspect drew a weapon and shot Officer Erfle twice in the back of the head. He was rushed to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center where he died from his injuries an hour later.

The suspect then carjacked a vehicle and took the driver hostage. About an hour later, an unmarked special assignments unit spotted a car and suspect matching the carjacked vehicle's description.

They began surveillance and managed to box in the vehicle at 27th Avenue and McDowell Road. The suspect pointed his gun at the hostage and he was shot and killed by an officer. The suspect was later identified as an illegal alien with a felony record. He had been deported in 2006 and illegally re-entered the country.

The driver of the vehicle was not injured. The two females who were with the suspect when he was initially stopped were taken into custody for questioning.

Officer Erfle had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 8 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Erfle gave the Phoenix Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Erfle.

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

Agency

Department Phoenix Police Department
Type Other
Location Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ
Platform Identity phoepd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 18, 2007
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 2007, 84 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 77th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Nicki 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. Nicki had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Phoenix Police Department has 47 officers remembered here, Nicki among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Nicki James Erfle

Phoenix Police Department · End of Watch September 18, 2007

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-W

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