15 Years of Honor, Remembrance, and Legacy
Fifteen years have passed since the tragic loss of Correctional Officer Jayme Lee Biendl, yet her name, her sacrifice, and her legacy remain deeply etched in the hearts of correctional professionals and law enforcement families across the nation.
On Saturday, January 29, 2011, Officer Biendl was murdered while on duty at the Monroe Correctional Facility in Washington State. Assigned to the prison chapel, Jayme was attacked during an inmate’s escape attempt. When the inmate was discovered missing during a routine count shortly after 9:00 p.m., officers immediately initiated a search. Within minutes, he was located in the chapel lobby and admitted he had planned to escape.
An equipment inventory revealed that a set of keys and a radio were missing. Officers rushed to Jayme’s assigned post and found her unresponsive. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, Jayme was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Officer Biendl was just 34 years old and had proudly served with the Washington State Department of Corrections for eight years. Her murder shook the corrections community in Washington and sent ripples of grief and anger throughout the law enforcement profession nationwide. She was the first Washington correctional officer killed in the line of duty in 2011, the first officer killed by strangulation in the state that year, and the first female officer in Washington’s recorded law enforcement history to be murdered by strangulation.
In the years since, Jayme’s death has remained a solemn reminder of the dangers correctional professionals face every day—often behind closed doors, away from public view, yet no less real or profound.
On May 9, 2013, the inmate responsible was convicted of aggravated first-degree murder and sentenced to death. That sentence was later commuted to life in prison.
While justice followed its course, nothing could restore what was lost.
Each year, Jayme’s life and service are honored through the Annual Jayme Biendl Memorial 5K, a community event rooted in remembrance, unity, and purpose. The 14th Annual Jayme Biendl Memorial 5K will return to Sky River Park on Sunday, January 25, 2026, raising funds for the Behind the Badge Foundation, which supports survivors, families, and Washington’s law enforcement community.
This year’s run once again brings together family members, coworkers, friends, and supporters—many of whom never met Jayme personally, yet feel connected to her story and sacrifice.
The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation will be in attendance, standing proudly alongside Jayme’s family, colleagues, and community. Our presence is a reflection of what CPOF stands for: never forgetting, always honoring, and continually supporting those left behind.
As we mark the 15th anniversary of Officer Jayme Lee Biendl’s end of watch, we pause to remember not only how she died—but how she lived, served, and mattered. Her sacrifice continues to shape conversations about safety, staffing, and vigilance within correctional institutions, and her memory remains a guiding force for those who wear the uniform today.
💙 We remember Jayme. We honor her service. And we stand with all who carry her legacy forward.