Granite State Times

New Hampshire residents honor a state police sergeant who was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 3, 1994, after responding to a SWAT call.

Sgt. James Noyes was shot and killed after responding to a SWAT call in Gilford 27 years ago. There, Noyes died while attempting to save an elderly man from harming himself, according to Granite State Times. 

"Today we remember Sgt. James S. Noyes," the NH Troopers said in an Oct. 3 tweet. The tweet was accompanied by a photo of Noyes with the words "A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."

Originally from Haverhill, Massachusetts, Noyes graduated from Haverhill High School in 1972 and went on to attend the University of Massachusetts at Boston, where he graduated in 1976 with a B.S. degree in sociology. He was then hired by the New Hampshire State Police on February 25, 1977, and remained on the force until his untimely death. 

In addition to his work with the police, Noyes was involved with the local school system in Madison and was an avid sports fan, and he combined the two to coach in Madison, according to New Hampshire State Police's Oct. 3 Facebook post. 

As a 17-year veteran of the State Police, Noyes was a well-known and respected official within the New Hampshire law enforcement community. Noyes is survived by his wife, Debra, and their three children.