Donald R. Martin

Kansas Department of Corrections — Topeka, KS

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch August 19, 1978

Age 42

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 11

Incident

Correctional Officer Donald Martin died as a result of an attack by an inmate at the Kansas State Penitentiary. The suspect had taken a female hostage during an escape attempt. On August 14th, an inmate at the Kansas State Penitentiary attempted an escape through the infirmary. During the escape attempt the inmate attacked the nurse on duty and then beat Officer Martin with a metal chair, crushing his skull. Officer Martin was rushed to Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City where he died of the injuries five days later. The inmate was charged with first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and attempted rape, but accepted a plea deal that dropped the attempted rape charge. He was sentenced to 30 years to life and remained in the prison system until his death on July 28, 2007. Officer Martin was a veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Kansas Department of Corrections for one year.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-771DD048
Stewardship: 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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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 Martin gave the Kansas Department of Corrections 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kansas, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Kansas Department of Corrections

Type Corrections

Location Topeka, KS

Platform Identity kanscorr.shawnee.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 19, 1978

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Military Service

Donald R. Martin served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Correctional Officer Donald R. Martin 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Kansas Department of Corrections, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Kansas Department of Corrections

of 12 officers

66.7% Felonious

KS — Statewide

237

of 335 officers

70.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious