Daniel James Nickerson
Agency patch
Guard

Daniel James Nickerson

Felonious
End of Watch March 25, 1934
Age 45
Tour of Duty 4 yrs 4 mo
The Vigil Panel 67 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Guard Daniel Nickerson was fatally stabbed by an inmate who had just attempted to stab another guard while being searched before taken to the prison's hospital at Clinton Prison. As the guard started to search him the man produced a clasp knife and lunged at him, inflicting a superficial wound on the guard's abdomen. Guard Nickerson and a third guard immediately came to the guard's assistance. Guard Nickerson was stabbed in the heart and killed instantly during the ensuing struggle. The third guard was also stabbed in the abdomen but survived the wound. The inmate was convicted of Guard Nickerson's murder and executed on February 21st, 1935. Guard Nickerson had served as a guard at the prison for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-92445165
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Nickerson gave the New York State Department of Correctional Services 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Nickerson.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Albany, NY
Platform Identity nysdcscorr.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 25, 1934
Tour of Duty 4 yrs 4 mo
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

Guard Daniel James Nickerson 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York State Department of Correctional Services, 26 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.2% of this agency's fallen.

New York State Department of Correctional Services
26
of 36 officers
72.2% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% 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. Daniel James Nickerson's cause is highlighted.

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

How Daniel James Nickerson Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4.3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel James Nickerson is highlighted in Mar.

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. Daniel James Nickerson was killed by edged weapon.

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

Incident Location