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Shawn Allan Burnell
Incident
Correctional Officer Shawn Burnell died as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Putnamville Correctional Facility at 1946 West Highway 40 in Greencastle.
Officer Burnell had served with the Indiana Department of Correction for over three years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Correctional Officer Shawn Allan Burnell died on October 18, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 29.
He is one of 885 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, father, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp6psyg7hmrr4564v3sg- 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 Shawn. Claim this record.
Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Shawn is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Correctional Officer Burnell gave the Indiana Department of Correction 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Burnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Indiana Department of Correction has lost 12 officers; 1 of them lost to illness.
Shawn is one of 13 officers lost to illness in IN, 2.6% of the 503 remembered there.
Shawn is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Shawn is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2020, 2 officers in IN were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 5.
In 2020, 346 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2020, 347 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Shawn was 29. Of the 13 lost to illness in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 56; the middle age was 51. Shawn had served 3.2 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Shawn was 29. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Shawn had served 3.2 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Shawn was 29. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Shawn had served 3.2 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
October holds 15.4% of these deaths in IN; June holds the most, 23.1%. Sundays: 23.1%.
October holds 14.9% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 14.2%.
October holds 12.6% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Sundays: 13.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 8.3% of all 12 deaths at Indiana Department of Correction, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 2.6% of all 503 deaths in IN, the 4th most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Indiana Department of Correction has 12 officers remembered here, Shawn among them.
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George Chamberlain May 11, 1874
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Hiram B. McWilliams Nov 22, 1911
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Ora D. Ambrose Oct 18, 1913
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William T. Spears Oct 18, 1913
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Virgil L. Orem Jan 21, 1919
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John H. Grimm May 8, 1921
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Harold Edward Rice
Dec 29, 1976
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Phillip K. Curry
Dec 13, 1994
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Timothy A. Betts
Aug 26, 2012
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Shawn Allan Burnell
Oct 18, 2020
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Eugene Lee Lasco
Feb 21, 2021
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Michael Robert Keel
Apr 12, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-WT
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Indiana Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
