Harrison William Whalen
Agency patch
Correctional Officer

Harrison William Whalen

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch October 9, 1971
Age 37
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Correctional Officer Harrison Whalen died from injuries sustained in a prison riot at the Attica Prison. Six other correctional officers were also killed during the riot. The leader of the riot was never charged with any crime. After his release from prison, he shot and killed Police Officer Norman R. Cerullo and Police Officer Christie D. Masone of the New York City Police Department on April 2, 1978, on a Brooklyn Street. Correctional Officer Whalen was a United States Navy veteran of the Korean War and had served with the New York State Department of Correctional Services for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnf0p1p7ms726s0p50rt
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Harrison. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Harrison is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Whalen gave the New York State Department of Correctional Services 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Albany, Albany County, NY
Platform Identity nysdcscorr.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1971
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Not available

Military Service

Harrison William Whalen served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Harrison is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Harrison was 37. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Harrison had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 0.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York State Department of Correctional Services has 36 officers remembered here, Harrison among them.

VI

Where

Correctional Officer Harrison William Whalen

New York State Department of Correctional Services · End of Watch October 9, 1971

Military Service

Harrison William Whalen served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

Visit Harrison William Whalen’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

Also Remembered

salute.nw →

↑