About the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation

On October 12, 2017 around 3 p.m. as the 30 inmates working the prison Sewing Plant were getting ready to return to their housing units, four inmates ambushed and attacked Correction Enterprises Manager Veronica Darden. The inmates ignited a fire inside the Sewing Plant as a diversion. Officer Justin Smith secured the other inmates into a holding cell, and then went looking for Veronica. He too was ambushed and assaulted. Maintenance worker Geoffrey Howe was leaving his shift and came upon the escape attempt. The inmates attacked and severely assaulted him. Officer Wendy Shannon, one of the initial responding Officers, was attacked and assaulted. Correctional Officer George Midgett, who was working on the loading dock, was ambushed and severely assaulted. Maintenance Mechanic Howe, Officer Shannon and Officer Midgett were air-lifted to a hospital in Norfolk, VA in critical condition. Officer Midgett underwent multiple facial repair surgeries. He was discharged six days later and had to undergo additional surgeries. Seven other responding Officers were also assaulted but were able to take control of the four inmates before they were able to get over the outer perimeter fence. Correction Enterprises Manager Veronica Darden had served with the North Carolina Division of Prisons as the Sewing Plant Manager for 10 years. She had worked as a Correctional Officer prior to that. She is survived by her husband, Eric; two adult daughters, Jasmine and Joy; her mother, Audrey; and siblings, Dyrel, Patsy, Clinton and George.

Senior Officer Specialist Christopher Parlo assigned to the Special Housing Unit, reported for duty relieving the evening watch Officer. Officer Parlo and several staff prepared five inmates to be escorted to transport. A Lieutenant arrived at the Special Housing Unit to assist with the inmate transport. During the transport Officer Parlo collapsed. The inmates were secured and 911 was called. Staff performed CPR until Officer Parlo was transported to the hospital where he passed away. Senior Officer Specialist Christopher Parlo had served with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Dena (who retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons); two daughters, 10-year old Josephine and five-year old Giovanna; mother, Patricia; brother, Matthew; sister-in-law; Maryellen; and cousin, Patricia.

Correctional Officer Joe Heddy responded to a cell after an inmate tied a bedsheet around his neck in an attempt to commit suicide. Officer Heddy called for assistance and began to struggle with the inmate in an attempt to remove the bedsheet. The inmate continued to resist until additional responding officers could help remove the bedsheet and subdue the inmate. Officer Heddy collapsed and other officers initiated CPR but were unable to resuscitate him. Officer Heddy had served with the Escambia County Department of Corrections for eight years after having retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FPC Eglin with 20 years of service. He is survived by his wife, Jill; adult daughter, Joy; adult sons, Jeffrey and Jason; granddaughters, Jillian, Vivian, Lorelei, Haley and Brooke; and grandsons, Gavin and Ryleigh.

Sergeant Curtis Billue and Sergeant Christopher Monica were transporting 33 inmates. Two of the inmates attacked the Sergeants during which, one inmate disarmed one Sergeant and then shot them both. The prisoners stole both Sergeants’ service weapons and carjacked a passing car. Both subjects remained at large for several days. They were captured in Tennessee following a vehicle pursuit in which they fired at two Deputies. The men fled to a nearby home in an attempt to steal another vehicle but were captured by the homeowner and a neighbor who held them at gunpoint until responding Officers took them into custody.Sergeant Billue had served with the Georgia Department of Corrections for 10 years. He is survived by his father, Revon; and his siblings, Denise, Carol, Diane, Barbara and Frank.

Sergeant Curtis Billue and Sergeant Christopher Monica were transporting 33 inmates. Two of the inmates attacked the Sergeants during which, one inmate disarmed one Sergeant and then shot them both. The prisoners stole both Sergeants’ service weapons and carjacked a passing car. Both subjects remained at large for several days. They were captured in Tennessee following a vehicle pursuit in which they fired at two Deputies. The men fled to a nearby home in an attempt to steal another vehicle but were captured by the homeowner and a neighbor who held them at gunpoint until responding Officers took them into custody.Sergeant Monica had served with the Georgia Department of Corrections for eight years. He is survived by his wife, Denise; two daughters, Ashley and 16-year-old Zoey; 11-year-old granddaughter, Kelsey; and 10-year-old grandson, Keylan.

Correctional Officer Shana Tedder died after suffering a heart attack exacerbated by an asthma attack following a use of force incident with an inmate. After the incident, Officer Tedder began to experience shortness of breath and collapsed. Other Officers began CPR until EMS arrived. EMS tried for 30 minutes to revive Officer Tedder. However, the effort was unsuccessful and Officer Tedder was pronounced dead, while still on her duty post. Correctional Officer Shana Tedder had served TDCJ for 12 years. She is survived by her 16-year-old daughter, Tai; aunt, Mona; and uncle, Bobby.

Deputy Sheriff Mark Burbridge and Deputy Sheriff Patrick Morgan were transporting an inmate back to the County Jail from the Courthouse. During transport the inmate disabled the locking mechanisms for his handcuffs and leg shackles. When Deputy Burbridge was removing the inmate from the van, the inmate attacked Deputy Burbridge, knocking him to the ground. The inmate ran to the driver’s door of the van and got inside. Deputy Burbridge ran to the front passenger side of the van while Deputy Morgan ran to the driver’s side door and tried to assist in apprehending the inmate. During the struggle, the inmate was able to get one of the deputy’s guns and fatally shot Deputy Burbridge. The inmate then shot Deputy Morgan (who survived). The inmate took possession of both Deputies’ firearms, along with a magazine of ammunition, then rammed through the closed garage door and escaped. The inmate was later captured out of state. Deputy Sheriff Mark Burbridge had served the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years. He is survived by his wife, Jessica; daughters, Kelsey and Karley; and son, Kaleb.

Sergeant Callahan responded to a trash can fire in the cell block. After Sergeant Callahan put out the fire with a fire extinguisher the inmate who had set the fire ambushed her. He wrestled the fire extinguisher away from Sergeant Callahan and used it to assault her. Sergeant Callahan was transported to outside medical where she succumbed to her injuries a short time later. Sergeant Meggan Callahan had served the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Prisons for five years. She is survived by her parents, Joe and Wendy; 13-year old nephew, Zacary (Meggan helped raise Zacary since birth); and fiancée, Kristen.

On February 1, 2017 inmates staged a fight inside the prison. Sergeant Floyd was ambushed and overpowered by numerous inmates. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Floyd radioed to other responding Officers that the disturbance was a trap. This action ultimately saved the lives of his fellow Officers. Nearly 20 hours after the siege began; the walls of the prison were breached by members of the Corrections Emergency Response Team. It was then that the body of Sergeant Floyd was discovered inside the prison. Sergeant Floyd had suffered severe trauma at the hands of the inmates while he was held captive. For his actions during the initial uprising, Sergeant Floyd was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and awarded the Medal of Valor. Lieutenant Floyd had served the Delaware Department of Correction for 16 years. He is the first Delaware Corrections Officer to be killed in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife, Saundra; adult son, Steven Jr.; adult daughters, Candyss and Chyvante; and grandsons, three-year-old Bryson and two-year-old Caison.

An inmate was observed picking up a bag of contraband along the inner fence line. Corporal Jenkins and three other Officers chased him across the prison yard, and captured him. Shortly thereafter Corporal Jenkins collapsed from a heart attack. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he passed away. The inmate was charged with first degree manslaughter because of Corporal Jenkins’ death.Corporal Jenkins had served with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for 18 months. He is survived by his four children: adult daughter, TaMayra; adult sons, Stephen Jr., Geordan and one-year old son, Kasyn; and four-year-old grandson, Stephen III.

Corrections Officer Lisa Mauldin and another Officer were attacked by an inmate inside the Miller County Detention Center’s kitchen. The inmate stabbed them repeatedly. Both Officers were transported to the local hospital, treated and released.Corrections Officer Mauldin had served with the Miller County Sheriff’s Office since 2015. She is survived by her husband, Travis; three daughters, Mandy, Billeye and Nikki; son, James; stepson, Brandon; parents, Bill and Ann; brother, Jason; and eight grandchildren.

On September 30th Detention Officer Robert Ransom had completed his shift, picked up his lunch box and was about to leave when a radio call for help came in. An inmate had collapsed on the floor and appeared to be having a heart attack.Officer Ransom called 911 and tetrieved the defibrillator. He returned to the cell blcok and began CPR. While another Officer was on the phone updating the 911 dispatchers he was informed that Officer Ransom was down. Officer Ransom was found sitting up against the wall and unresponsive. Officer Ransom was transported to the hospital where he died of cardiac arrest.Detention Officer Robert Ransom had served with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office for 11 years. He had previously served with the Porter County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana for 25 years. He is survived by his two brothers, Charles and David.