Roll of Honor
Buddy Ray Herron
Incident
Correctional Officer Buddy Herron was assaulted and fatally stabbed along Highway 11, two miles north of Pendleton, shortly after 11:00 pm.
It is believed that he had stopped to assist at the scene of a single-car accident while en route to begin his shift at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. At some point after stopping, he was stabbed by the driver, who then stole Officer Herron's pickup truck. Despite his wound, Officer Herron was able to call 911. Responding units transferred him to St. Anthony's Hospital where he succumbed to his wound shortly after midnight.
The 21-year-old suspect was arrested in the vehicle early the next morning following a vehicle pursuit. He has been charged with parole violations and murder. It was determined that the vehicle he had originally crashed was stolen and had been involved in a burglary earlier in the evening.
On July 30, 2013, the suspect was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to life.
Officer Herron had served with the Oregon Department of Corrections for four years and had previously served with the Arizona Department of Corrections. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserve and also served as a volunteer firefighter.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, four children, and one granddaughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-14DC7206- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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.
Correctional Officer Herron gave the Oregon Department of Corrections 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oregon. 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
Buddy Ray Herron served in the Navy (1988â1988) before joining law enforcement.
Correctional Officer Buddy Ray Herron is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Oregon Department of Corrections, 10 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Buddy Ray Herron's cause is highlighted.
How Buddy Ray Herron Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Buddy Ray Herron is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Buddy Ray Herron was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Oregon Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
