About the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation

On April 20th Probation and Parole Agent Kaitlin Cowley was killed in a single vehicle crash after leaving an assignment. Agent Cowley had just completed assisting with inmate security at the Hospital when her vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a tree. Probation and Parole Agent Kaitlin Cowley had served the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections for three years. She had served the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission for the two years prior.

On April 10th Correctional Officer Thomas Rowe while on duty at Northern Nevada Correctional Center was at the gun range participating in Bi-Annual qualification. Officer Rowe had stepped up taken his qualifying shot and suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed. Officer Rowe was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cause of death was a ruptured Aneurysm of the Ascending Aorta. Correctional Officer Thomas Rowe had served the Nevada Department of Corrections for 12 years.

On March 20th Correctional Officer Amanda De Leon left the Lopez State Jail in route to the Connally Unit to work a mandatory overtime shift when she lost control of her vehicle, the vehicle left the roadway rolled and Officer De Leon was ejected from the vehicle. Officer De Leon passed away from massive trauma to her body. Wet roads and rain contributed to the accident. Correctional Officer IV Amanda De Leon served the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for six years.

Correctional Major Angelanette Moore serving as the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail’s Director of Security Operations completed a housing unit shakedown and a few hours later was wrapping up a disciplinary discussion with a group of inmates when she suddenly collapsed. Medical personnel and fellow Officers immediately began CPR but were unable to revive her. She was pronounced deceased from a fatal heart attack. Major Angelanette Moore served the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail for over 20 years

On December 4th, while Sergeant Joshua Voth was working in the building that stored the institution’s boiler, the boiler suffered a catastrophic failure and exploded, blowing the boiler room door off. Sergeant Voth was standing near the area and the door struck him, causing fatal injuries. Sergeant Joshua Voth had served the Colorado Department of Corrections for three years. He is survived by his wife, Tomi Jo and three young children; daughters, five-year-old Samantha; two-year-old Addison; and one-year-old son, Jace.

On November 6th, Officer Andrew Douglas, along with Officer Calvin Aikens and Lieutenant Frances Barber, were transporting inmates from FCI Tallahassee to USP Atlanta. Officer Douglas was the transportation driver. After dropping off 28 inmates and en route to the Armory, Officer Douglas collapsed at the steering wheel. The bus crashed into the guard rail. Lieutenant Barber radioed for assistance and began CPR. Officer Douglas was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Senior Officer Specialist Andrew Douglas had served the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 25 years. He is survived by his two sons, Jamal and Rashad; his sister, Kimberly; brother-in-law, Kevin; and nephew, Douglas.

On October 29th Detention Officer Gene Lee was working in a Dorm supervising inmates when an inmate attacked Officer Lee without any warning or provocation. The inmate assaulted him by grabbing Officer Lee by throat and before Officer Lee could react the inmate struck Officer Lee in the legs sweeping his legs out from under him causing him to fall to ground hitting his head so hard on the concrete floor it knocked him unconscious. Immediately staff responded and took control of the inmate while other staff responded to Officer Lee. Officer Lee was taken to an outside hospital, however Officer Lee slipped into a coma due to a brain bleed and swelling of the brain. On October 30th with his family by his side Officer Lee passed away.

Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson was found murdered in her residence on the grounds of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary on August 7th, 2019, by an inmate who then escaped from the facility using a tractor.The escapee, who was serving a sentence for aggravated kidnapping and rape, remained at large for five days before being taken into custody. He was charged with first-degree murder, burglary, aggravated sexual assault, and escape.Administrator Johnson had served with the Tennessee Department of Correction for 38 years and started her career as a correctional officer.

On July 31st Correctional Officer Pedro Rodriguez-Mateo while supervising inmates during visitation observed a visitor pass an item to an inmate. Officer Rodriguez-Mateo had the inmate removed from the visitation area so he could be searched. During the search the inmate attacked Officer Rodriguez-Mateo, during the attack the inmate was able to disarm Officer Rodriguez-Mateo of his baton. The inmate then struck Officer Rodriguez-Mateo several times causing him to suffer a skull fracture. Officer Rodriguez-Mateo was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the following day. The inmate was subdued and charged with first – degree murder of a Correctional Officer. The inmate died in prison in September. Correctional Officer Pedro Rodriguez-Mateo had served the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 26 years. He is survived by his wife Gloris, 17-year-old daughter Tiffany and 14-year-old daughter Heidy.

On September 4, 1996 Correctional Officer Ronald Cooper was severely assaulted by an inmate who kicked him repeatedly in the head with boots on. Officer Cooper suffered severe head trauma, underwent a front lobotomy to remove part of his brain, the part that controls motor skills. Officer Cooper went from the hospital into a long-term care facility and never recovered. Officer Cooper underwent continued daily specialized medical care, including Physical Therapy, Memory Therapy, he had to relearn all motor skills.On May 11, 2019 Officer Cooper passed away from renal failure associated with his injuries. Correctional Officer Ronald Cooper served the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for nine years before his life altering assault. He is survived by his wife Nancy, who also works for TDCJ. (Step-son Christopher Moore)

On January 31st Probation Officer Russell Salazar completed a field visit at the home of a probationer and was on his way to his next field visit was in a single vehicle accident. While entering the on-ramp of the highway Officer Salazar’s car hydroplaned, lost control and rolled over approximately 5 times crashing through a fence and ejecting Officer Salazar from the car. The wet road conditions and speed may have contributed to his accident.Officer Salazar was taken to the hospital where he passed away from blunt force injuries. Adult Probation Officer Russell Salazar had served the Kendall County Community Supervision and Corrections for 5 years.

On January 19, 2018, Correctional Officer Joel A. Legaspi passed away following a fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage, shortly after completing a demanding 14-hour shift of mandatory overtime. During that shift, a piece of kitchen equipment was reported missing and believed to be a potential weapon, prompting an exhaustive facility-wide search that placed intense strain on all involved.

Following the shift, Officer Legaspi complained of a severe headache. He reported to work the next day, but fellow officers immediately noticed he was unwell. He was relieved early to seek medical attention and was treated with pain medication. Tragically, his condition worsened. After calling in sick, he collapsed at home and could not be revived.

Officer Legaspi was a proud veteran of the United States Army National Guard and served with the Virginia Department of Corrections for 11 years. He was widely respected for his discipline, steady demeanor, and dedication to duty—even in the most stressful situations.

His passing is a solemn reminder of the toll that long hours and relentless demands can take on the brave men and women who serve behind the walls. Officer Legaspi is remembered not only for his military and correctional service, but for the quiet strength and unwavering commitment he brought to every shift.