End of Watch – June 4, 2001

Today, we remember Corrections Officer Gregory Guy Collins of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services – Division of Correction on the anniversary of his End of Watch. More than two decades later, his service, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting others continue to be honored and remembered.

Officer Collins was just 31 years old when he was tragically ambushed and murdered on June 4, 2001, after completing an overtime shift at the Eastern Correctional Institution in Maryland. After finishing his shift around midnight, Officer Collins began the drive home to his family along Indiantown Road in Vienna, Maryland. While traveling home, he was shot in the back of the head by a former inmate in an act of retaliation connected to a perceived grievance from the inmate’s incarceration.

Officer Collins’ vehicle veered off the roadway into a wooded area, where it was later discovered with the engine still running and multiple bullet holes riddling the truck. When he failed to return home, his wife reported him missing, leading authorities to the heartbreaking discovery.

For years, the murder of Officer Collins remained unsolved, leaving his family, friends, coworkers, and the corrections community searching for answers. In 2019, investigators received information that led them to a former inmate of Eastern Correctional Institution. During the investigation, the suspect admitted in a recorded conversation that he killed Officer Collins in retaliation for issues stemming from his incarceration. In June 2021, the man was convicted of Officer Collins’ murder and later sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 25 years.

Though justice was ultimately served, nothing can erase the devastating loss experienced by Officer Collins’ loved ones and fellow officers.

Officer Collins proudly served his country as both a United States Marine Corps veteran and a member of the Maryland National Guard before dedicating three years of service to the Maryland Division of Correction. He is remembered as a devoted husband, father, veteran, and correctional professional who served with honor and commitment.

At the time of his death, Officer Collins left behind his wife, infant daughter, and father. Following his passing, coworkers and members of the corrections community rallied around his family, organizing annual fundraisers and events to support his daughter and ensure his legacy would never be forgotten.

In recent years, Officer Collins’ name was added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., ensuring that his sacrifice will forever be recognized among the heroes who gave their lives in service to others.

Today, the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation joins the Maryland corrections community, Officer Collins’ family, friends, and all who served beside him in remembering his life and honoring his sacrifice.

We will never forget Corrections Officer Gregory Guy Collins.