J. W. Block

Louisiana Department of Corrections — Baton Rouge, LA

Felonious

End of Watch June 20, 1906

The Vigil Panel 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Captain J. W. Block was shot and killed after being taken prisoner by three convicts attempting to escape from the Angola State Prison saw mill. The prisoners had surprised Captain Block and disarmed him. As they made their way to the river they were fired upon by another guard.

The inmates forced Captain Block into a skiff and warned the approaching guards they would shoot him if they were fired upon. A prison trustee opened fire on the convicts, who in turn fatally shot Captain Block.

All three prisoners were shot in the gunfight, and a second guard was seriously wounded.

No passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice and you will always be remembered.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo (Retired) Delaware State Police June 20th, 2020

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-5C2E3928
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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.
Captain Block served with the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Louisiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Block.

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

Agency

Department Louisiana Department of Corrections

Type Corrections

Location Baton Rouge, LA

Platform Identity ldcorr.ebr.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 20, 1906

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Captain J. W. Block 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 61.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Louisiana 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.

Louisiana Department of Corrections

of 12 officers

66.7% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious