Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Harold Atkinson was stabbed to death while assigned to the Missouri State Penitentiary. After he failed to turn in his radio a search was conducted for him. His body was found several hours later underneath a cell bunk with 69 stab wounds. Two inmates were convicted of Lieutenant Atkinson's murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Lieutenant Atkinson was a 24-year veteran of the Missouri Department of Corrections.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-F70C6677- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Atkinson gave the Missouri Department of Corrections 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Atkinson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Harold V. Atkinson 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Missouri Department of Corrections, 9 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harold V. Atkinson's cause is highlighted.
How Harold V. Atkinson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harold V. Atkinson is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harold V. Atkinson was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Missouri Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
