Alvin Sherman Glenn
Agency patch
Detention Officer

Alvin Sherman Glenn

Felonious
End of Watch September 17, 2000
Age 59
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 147 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detention Officer Alvin Glenn was beaten and strangled after being attacked by three inmates during an escape attempt at the Richland County Detention Center.

The incident occurred when he was locking prisoners back in their cells. Officer Glenn was overpowered by three inmates who handcuffed, beat and strangled him. The inmates then made their way to the roof of the jail but were injured when they jumped to the ground. All three were taken into custody before they made their escape.

Officer Glenn was the only guard overseeing 64 inmates in the medium security area when he was attacked.

The inmate found to be responsible for Officer Glenn's death was serving a life sentence for murder. On July 26th, 2006, he was convicted of murdering Officer Glenn and received another life sentence.

Officer Glenn had served with the Richland County Detention Center for five years.

The Richland County Detention Center was renamed the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in his honor.

Survivors

He is survived by four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-412BF717
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 Alvin. Claim this record.

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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detention Officer Glenn gave the Richland County Detention Center 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detention Officer Glenn.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Columbia, SC
Platform Identity rcdccorr.richland.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 17, 2000
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 59
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Detention Officer Alvin Sherman Glenn is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Richland County Detention Center
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
SC — Statewide
272
of 441 officers
61.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alvin Sherman Glenn's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Alvin Sherman Glenn Compares

Age at Death
59
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alvin Sherman Glenn is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Richland County Detention Center are honored on badge.nw.