Dan Harrison
Correctional Officer

Dan Harrison

Felonious
End of Watch July 23, 1978
Age 32
Tour of Duty 10 mo
The Vigil Panel 120 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Correctional Officer Dan Harrison was beaten and stabbed to death at the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Georgia.

He was going to the aid of another officer who was being attacked during a prisoner riot. Officer Harrison was stabbed a total of 61 times and was beaten so badly that nearly every bone in his body was broken. After the assault the prisoners stacked mattresses on top of his body and lit them on fire.

Officer Harrison had served with the Georgia Department of Corrections for 10 months.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three children, and twin sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-418D1FB8
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Harrison served with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Georgia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Harrison.

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

Agency

Location Atlanta, GA
Platform Identity gdcorr.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1978
Tour of Duty 10 mo
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Shank

Correctional Officer Dan Harrison 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Georgia Dept. of Corrections, 16 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.

Georgia Dept. of Corrections
16
of 38 officers
42.1% Felonious
GA — Statewide
548
of 903 officers
60.7% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dan Harrison's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Dan Harrison Compares

Age at End of Watch
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dan Harrison is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dan Harrison was killed by edged weapon; shank.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location