End of Watch: July 25, 2006
Twenty years have passed since Correctional Officer David Warren McGuinn was killed in the line of duty, but time has not diminished the meaning of his service, the weight of his sacrifice, or the love with which he continues to be remembered.
Officer McGuinn served with the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Division of Correction. On the night of July 25, 2006, he was conducting a routine prisoner count at the maximum-security Maryland House of Correction in Jessup.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., two incarcerated individuals who had forced open their cell doors ambushed Officer McGuinn as he passed their cells on the fourth tier. He was stabbed multiple times in areas not protected by his protective vest. Despite his critical injuries, Officer McGuinn managed to break free and make his way down two flights of stairs before collapsing. Fellow officers immediately rushed to his aid, and he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries approximately one hour later.
He was 42 years old.
One of the individuals responsible was later found incompetent to stand trial. The other was convicted of first-degree murder on February 9, 2012, and subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A Life of Service
Officer McGuinn had served with the Maryland Division of Correction for two years, but his commitment to helping and protecting others began long before he entered corrections.
A native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, David attended Atlantic City schools and built a life rooted in public service. He worked for AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center as a security manager, served his community as a certified emergency medical technician and provided life-support instruction. He was also a member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 104, associated with the 177th Security Forces Squadron in Atlantic City.
His move to Maryland marked the next chapter of that service. As a correctional officer, he accepted a responsibility that is often carried out beyond public view: maintaining safety and order inside a secure institution while protecting coworkers, incarcerated individuals and the community outside its walls.
The circumstances of Officer McGuinn’s death are a solemn reminder that correctional professionals face dangers that are not always seen or fully understood by the public. Routine responsibilities can change without warning, and officers must remain alert while working in environments where the risks are real and constant.
On July 25, 2006, Officer McGuinn reported for duty and carried out the responsibilities entrusted to him. He deserved to complete his shift and return home to those who loved him.
A Proud Family Legacy
According to his family, Officer McGuinn drew inspiration from generations of men whose lives were marked by courage, accomplishment and service. Among them was his grandfather, George Savage, a former Atlantic City police officer.
His family history also included Josiah Henson, whose life story influenced Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Matthew Henson, the renowned Arctic explorer. His great-uncle Warner T. McGuinn was a Yale Law School graduate and mentor to future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Another great-uncle, Dr. William Moncure Alexander, served as the first editor of the Afro-American Ledger.
Officer McGuinn carried that legacy forward in his own way—not only through his profession, but through the roles he held throughout his life. Those who knew him remembered much more than the uniform. They remembered a father, son, brother, friend, EMT, instructor and caring man of honor.
He was survived by his daughter, Shayna; his son, Zacary; his mother, Janice E. McGuinn; his sisters, Loretta and Crystal; his brothers, Joseph, Michael and Victor; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends and colleagues.
A Memory That Endures
In the years since his death, officers, friends, family members and supporters from across the country have continued to leave reflections in Officer McGuinn’s honor. Their words describe a man of integrity, courage and compassion. Former colleagues have remembered working the same tiers he once walked. Others have written about the risks correctional officers face each day and the importance of ensuring that Officer McGuinn’s sacrifice is never forgotten.
One particularly personal remembrance speaks to the lasting place he holds in the hearts of those who loved him:
“There is not a day that I don’t think about you. I love and miss you so much.”
That love has endured for two decades.
Officer McGuinn’s memory has also been honored through community events, including a Battle of the Badges Law Enforcement Basketball Tournament held in recognition of his service and dedication. These tributes reflect the many communities touched by his life—from Atlantic City and the emergency medical field to Maryland corrections and the wider law enforcement family.
Twenty Years Later, We Remember
An anniversary such as this is not simply a marker of how much time has passed. It is an opportunity to say his name, remember the life he lived and recognize the family that has carried his absence for 20 years.
The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation joins Officer McGuinn’s family, friends, former colleagues and the entire Maryland correctional community in remembering him on the 20th anniversary of his End of Watch.
We remember his dedication to public safety.
We remember the courage with which he served.
We remember the many roles he held beyond the badge.
We remember the loved ones who never had the opportunity to say goodbye.
And we remember the correctional professionals who continue to walk the tiers, conduct the counts and stand watch inside institutions across the country.
Correctional Officer David Warren McGuinn gave his life in service to others on July 25, 2006. Twenty years later, his name, his service and his sacrifice remain part of the proud history of the correctional profession.
Rest peacefully, Officer McGuinn. You will never be forgotten.