Category: Line of Duty Death
Remembering Correctional Officer Don Wagstaff: 55 Years Later
Utah Department of CorrectionsEnd of Watch: December 23, 1970 Fifty-five years ago, on December 23, 1970, the Utah Department of Corrections—and the corrections profession as a whole—lost Correctional Officer Don “Donald” Wagstaff, a dedicated officer, husband, father, and grandfather. Today, we honor his sacrifice, remember his legacy, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that his […]
Remembering Detention Officer Isaiah Patrick Bias: One Year Later
Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, TexasEnd of Watch: December 16, 2024 One year ago, the law enforcement community lost a remarkable young man, Detention Officer Isaiah Patrick Bias, a 28-year-old protector, artist, brother, and friend. His passing on December 16, 2024, was not only a tragedy for his family and colleagues but for every correctional professional […]
Honoring Master Correction Officer Jeremy Lewis Hall
November 25, 1984 – November 17, 2025 The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation joins the Virginia Department of Corrections and the entire corrections community in mourning the tragic loss of Master Correction Officer Jeremy Lewis Hall, age 40, of Elk Creek, Virginia. Officer Hall passed away on November 17, 2025, following an attack by an inmate […]
“Christmas in Heaven”: A Tribute to Andrew “Big Dawg” Lansing by His Friend and Coworker, Will Wood
Ross Correctional Institution, Ohio This December marks a deeply personal act of remembrance from within the corrections family. Will Wood, a fellow officer and close friend of Andrew “Big Dawg” Lansing of Ross Correctional Institution, wrote and recorded an original song titled “Christmas in Heaven”—a heartfelt musical tribute to honor Andy’s life, legacy, and sacrifice, […]
Remembering Sergeant Scott A. Grimes: 30 Years Later
November 29, 2025 marks 30 years since the tragic line-of-duty death of Arkansas Correctional Sergeant Scott A. Grimes—an officer whose courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to protecting others continues to resonate deeply within the Arkansas Department of Correction and the entire corrections profession. Sergeant Scott Grimes, age 41, lost his life on November 29, 1995, […]
Remembering the Fallen of Menard: Sixty Years Since the 1965 Riot
November 23 marks 60 years since one of the darkest days in the history of Illinois corrections. On November 23, 1965, Lieutenant Lewis M. Paul, Lieutenant Arthur L. Kisro, and Correctional Officer George L. Wilson of the Menard Correctional Center were killed in the line of duty during a violent prison riot that erupted just […]
Remembering Correctional Officer Rodney Foster — 30 Years Later
On November 17, 1995, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department lost Correctional Officer Rodney Foster, a dedicated professional whose life was tragically cut short while performing a routine duty in service to his facility and community. As we mark the 30th anniversary of his End of Watch, we pause to honor his commitment, his sacrifice, and […]
Honoring Lieutenant William S. Warfield — 55 Years Later
This week marks 55 years since the loss of Lieutenant William S. Warfield of the Washington State Penitentiary, a dedicated corrections professional who gave his life in the line of duty on November 17, 1970. More than five decades later, we continue to honor his service, remember his sacrifice, and recognize the legacy he left […]
Honoring Senior Corrections Officer John H. Paskewicz Sr. — A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice
On November 16, 2010, Senior Corrections Officer John H. Paskewicz Sr. of the Maine Correctional Center gave his life in service to others. Today, as we mark the anniversary of his End of Watch, the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation pauses to honor his extraordinary career, his devotion to duty, and the legacy he left behind […]
Remembering Correctional Officer Gary Chapin — 15 Years Later
On this 15th anniversary of his End of Watch, we pause to honor Correctional Officer Gary Chapin of the Crawford County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania, whose life of service and sacrifice continues to resonate deeply within the corrections community. Officer Chapin passed away on November 15, 2010, succumbing to injuries sustained one month earlier after […]