John Hartye
Agency patch
Guard

John Hartye

Felonious
End of Watch April 14, 1941
The Vigil Panel 77 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Guard John Hartye was shot and killed by three inmates who had smuggled revolvers into Sing Sing State Prison in an attempt to escape from the prison hospital. After making the escape the convicts encountered Officer James Fagan, of the Ossining Police Department, and another officer. During ensuing shootout Officer Fagan and one of the convicts were shot and killed. The other two were arrested and convicted of murdering Guard Hartyre, sentenced to death, and both were executed on June 11th, 1942. Neither prisoner was tried for murdering Officer Fagan.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-FF61E62B
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Hartye served with the New York State Department of Correctional Services.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Hartye.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Albany, NY
Platform Identity nysdcscorr.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 14, 1941
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Guard John Hartye 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

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
26
of 36 officers
72.2% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Hartye's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John Hartye Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Hartye is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Hartye was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location