Roll of Honor
Incident
Overseer James Bloomer died of a stab wound sustained as he and a prison keeper tried dealt with a prisoner who had destroyed his cell and lit his mattress on fire in the Eastern State Penitentiary.
The officers extinguished the fire with a hose and then ordered the man out of the cell. As he exited he produced a shoemaker's knife and stabbed both officers before being subdued.
Both officers were sent home to recover. Upon getting home, Overseer Bloomer's family took him to University Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later. The prison keeper recovered and testified against the subject at his trial. The inmate was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Overseer Bloomer had served at the Eastern State Penitentiary for over 20 years.
Survivors
He was a widower and was survived by three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-55FE6E81- 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
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Overseer Bloomer served with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Overseer James A. Bloomer 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, 13 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James A. Bloomer's cause is highlighted.
How James A. Bloomer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James A. Bloomer is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James A. Bloomer was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Pennsylvania Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
