John Derek Osborne

Denver Sheriff's Department — Denver, CO

Felonious

End of Watch August 7, 1974

Age 31

The Vigil Panel 114 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Osborne was stabbed to death by two inmates who were attempting to escape from the Denver County Jail. The two, 30 and 33, had overpowered another guard, stabbed him and took his keys, and then came across Deputy Osborne, who was on his normal rounds. The two suspects overpowered Deputy Osborne and cut his throat with a 4-inch homemade blade. The youngest, an escapee from the Colorado Penitentiary, was being held after he was captured. He was charged with Deputy Osborne's murder. The other suspect was being held for a several hold-ups of liquor stores in Dallas, Texas. Charges, related to Deputy Osborne's murder, were later dismissed against him. The killer, 25, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was released in 2011.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-ACC75B1D
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Osborne served with the Denver Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Osborne.

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

Agency

Department Denver Sheriff's Department

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Denver, CO

Platform Identity dso.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 7, 1974

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

Deputy Sheriff John Derek Osborne 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Denver Sheriff's Department, 2 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.

Denver Sheriff's Department

of 7 officers

28.6% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious