Sergeant James Stanwood Noyes

James Stanwood Noyes

Sergeant James Noyes, head of the SWAT team, was at home with his family when he heard about a standoff in Gilford, New Hampshire, involving a despondent man who had lost his wife earlier in the year.

The subject had barricaded himself in his home. Sergeant Noyes responded with the team in the hopes that, as an expert hostage negotiator, he could talk him into putting down his weapon.

While Sergeant Noyes was outside the building speaking to him, the man fired several shots. One shot struck him in the wrist, and the second struck him under the left arm, bypassing his vest. The subject then committed suicide.

Sergeant Noyes had served with the New Hampshire State Police for 17 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons. His oldest son followed in his footsteps and joined the New Hampshire State Police in December 2001, and in 2020 he was promoted to the head of the New Hampshire State Police.