Roll of Honor
Joseph J. Cushman
Incident
Corrections Employee Joseph Cushman was bludgeoned to death by an inmate making an escape from the Menard Correctional Center. Corrections Employee Cushman, who was an agricultural worker at the center, was found murdered after an inmate had stolen his pickup truck to make his escape. The inmate, who had been serving a 25-to-45-year sentence for murder at the time of the attack, was captured a few weeks later, convicted, and sentenced to life. He hanged himself in his cell on December 12, 1988. Corrections Employee Cushman had served with the Illinois Department of Corrections for 19 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife of 32 years, a daughter, and four sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-4BC0FBC3- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corrections Employee Cushman gave the Illinois Department of Corrections 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Employee Cushman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corrections Employee Joseph J. Cushman 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Illinois Department of Corrections, 27 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph J. Cushman's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph J. Cushman Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph J. Cushman is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph J. Cushman was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Illinois Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
