Roll of Honor
Incident
Corrections Officer John Oles was stabbed to death during a prison escape from the North Dakota State Penitentiary's old main building. The 21-year-old prison trusty stabbed Officer Oles with a bread knife before escaping. The man had served two months of a one year sentence for auto theft. He was captured by a posse and subsequently sentenced to life in prison. In 1964 his sentence was reduced to 20 years. He was released in 1966. Officer Oles had served with the North Dakota State Penitentiary for four years. He had no known survivors.
Survivors
survivors.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-ND-90F1C712- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corrections Officer Oles gave the North Dakota State Penitentiary 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bismarck community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Officer Oles.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corrections Officer John Oles 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 ND, 39 of 61 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At North Dakota State Penitentiary, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Oles's cause is highlighted.
How John Oles Compares
Offender Outcome
Released in 1966
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Oles is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Oles was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from North Dakota State Penitentiary are honored on badge.nw.
