Roll of Honor
Louis Pepe
Incident
Location: New York Incident Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2000 Weapon: Edged weapon Offender: Sentenced to life
Senior Officer Specialist Louis Pepe succumbed to injuries he received when he was attacked by an inmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center at 150 Park Row, Lower Manhattan, New York City, New York, on November 1, 2000.
The inmate was awaiting trial for two terrorist bombings of the United States Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. After the inmate met with his lawyer, Officer Pepe escorted the inmate back to his cell. The inmate's cellmate threw hot sauce in his eyes, trying to blind him. Then, the inmate used a comb and brush, which were converted and shaved into shivs, to stab Officer Pepe in the left eye. Both inmates proceeded to beat and pummel him for over an hour in their cell, attempting to steal his keys and escape. Despite being brutally attacked, Officer Pepe refused to give up his keys.
The inmate, who was Usama Bin Laden's aide, had intended to use the keys to free himself and his cellmate. He had written a hostage demand note planning to take additional hostages in his effort to escape, release additional prisoners, and attack his assigned attorney so he could be appointed a new attorney. He was initially sentenced to only 32 years in prison, but in 2010, the inmate was sentenced to life in prison for his brutal attack on Officer Pepe.
Officer Pepe was rehabilitated in the hospital for over two and a half years. He lost his left eye, experienced partial blindness in his right eye, and suffered brain damage and partial paralysis, which confined him to a wheelchair and required constant health assistance.
Officer Pepe had served with the United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons for 15 years when he was attacked. He was formally retired in 2014. His whole family preceded him in death.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. To his brothers and sisters who still hold the line, may God keep you safe and protect you from harm.
Paul Newton - Executive Director Bridge to the Badge November 26th, 2025
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
29 years. You could have gone home.
Senior Officer Specialist Pepe gave the United States Department of Justice 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Officer Specialist Pepe.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Senior Officer Specialist Louis Pepe 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons, 26 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Louis Pepe's cause is highlighted.
How Louis Pepe Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Louis Pepe is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Louis Pepe was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
