Harrison William "Red" Whalen

New York State Department of Correctional Services — Albany, NY

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 9, 1971

Age 37

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 35

Incident

Correctional Officer Harrison Whalen died from injuries sustained in a prison riot at the Attica Prison. Six other correctional officers were also killed during the riot. The leader of the riot was never charged with any crime. After his release from prison, he shot and killed Police Officer Norman R. Cerullo and Police Officer Christie D. Masone of the New York City Police Department on April 2, 1978, on a Brooklyn Street. Correctional Officer Whalen was a United States Navy veteran of the Korean War and had served with the New York State Department of Correctional Services for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-7A263D68
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 Whalen gave the New York State Department of Correctional Services 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community, 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 New York State Department of Correctional Services

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity nysdcscorr.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1971

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Not available

Offender Not available

Military Service

Harrison William "Red" Whalen served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Correctional Officer Harrison William "Red" Whalen 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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

of 36 officers

72.2% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious