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Wayne Mitchell
Incident
Correction Officer Wayne Mitchell was killed when the prisoner transport van he was riding in was involved in an accident on I-71, under the overpass for Ohio 56 in Madison County.
He was one of three officers transporting two prisoners to a medical facility when the van slid on a patch of ice and struck a concrete retaining wall.
Officer Mitchell had served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for 15 years.
Officer Mitchell, a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran, was selected as Correctional Officer of the Year for 2001 by a vote of his fellow officers after they withdrew their own names from consideration.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Wayne is one person.
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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.
Correction Officer Mitchell gave the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Wayne Mitchell served in the U.S. Army (1967â1969) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has lost 26 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Wayne is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
Wayne is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Wayne is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2001, 1 officer at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2001, 2 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 53rd heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 2001, 77 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2001, 89 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Wayne was 54. Of the 4 lost to accidents at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 29.3 and 42; the middle age was 34.5. Wayne had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Wayne was 54. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. Wayne had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wayne was 54. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Wayne had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wayne was 54. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Wayne had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 20% of these deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction; July holds the most, 40%. Fridays: 20%.
February holds 6.3% of these deaths in OH; July holds the most, 12.2%. Fridays: 16.9%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 19.2% of all 26 deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has 26 officers remembered here, Wayne among them.
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Cyrus Sells
Jun 9, 1841
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James Fancher Jul 14, 1849
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Daniel Heavey Jan 19, 1865
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Charles B. Lauderbaugh
Nov 18, 1898
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Henry J. Gearhart May 29, 1904
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William H. Moorehead Dec 23, 1905
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Urban Wilford Nov 3, 1926
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Grant Weakley
Sep 2, 1927
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Frank B. Hanger
Oct 6, 1932
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Alfred E. Schmidt Sep 2, 1940
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Walter W. Zimmer
Apr 19, 1948
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Samuel P. Chesshir Apr 22, 1948
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Arthur L Sprouse Jul 24, 1973
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Gary P. Underwood
Jul 24, 1973
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Robert A. White
Apr 27, 1979
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Eric D Bowling Feb 2, 1984
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Beverly Jo Taylor
Jun 7, 1990
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Thomas D. Davis, Jr.
Jun 26, 1992
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Robert B. Vallandingham
Apr 14, 1993
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Dennis Lee Stemen
Jul 5, 1994
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Bonita Haynes
Aug 6, 1996
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Shirlene A. Jenkins
Feb 11, 1997
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Wayne Mitchell
Feb 2, 2001
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Michael Wilson Douds
Apr 5, 2003
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Rodney Osborne
Apr 9, 2024
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Andrew Lansing
Dec 25, 2024
Where
Military Service
Wayne Mitchell served in the U.S. Army (1967–1969) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Wayne Mitchell’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
