Youngtown Police Department, Arizona
End of Watch: Wednesday, August 4, 1965
Age: 71
Tour of Duty: 35 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 4, 1965
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Marshal Nofs was killed by two burglary suspects.
Marshal Herman Nofs was responding to a burglary at a gas station at 111th Avenue and Grand Avenue. He was approaching the two suspects, ages seventeen and nineteen, with his weapon drawn when the 19-year-old slugged him and one of the suspects shot him with his own gun. Both were charged with murder.
Both suspects were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on February 9, 1966. The Arizona Supreme Court overturned the 17-year-old suspect's conviction and ordered a new trial. On July 29, 1968, he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison.
Marshal Nofs was a 31-year veteran of the Illinois State Police and was Youngtown's first Marshal.
Marshal Nofs was survived by his wife.