Paul Jordan

Florida Department of Corrections — Tallahassee, FL

Cardiac

End of Watch January 24, 1976

Age 62

The Vigil Panel 116 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Correctional Officer Paul Jordan suffered a fatal heart attack after shooting at escaping prisoners at the Reception and Medical Center in Lake Butler, Florida. Two inmates were observed climbing over one of the perimeter fences by Officer Jordan and an officer in a second guard tower. One of the officers fired at the inmates with a shotgun, killing one of them. The second inmate surrendered. The inmate who was killed had been serving a life sentence for robbery. Officer Jordan was found in his watchtower unresponsive after the incident. Officer Jordan was assigned to the Reception and Medical Center.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-FE455FE9
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Paul. 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.
Correctional Officer Jordan served with the Florida Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Jordan.

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

Agency

Department Florida Department of Corrections

Location Tallahassee, FL

Platform Identity fdcorr.leon.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 24, 1976

Age 62

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Weapon Person

Offender Not available

Correctional Officer Paul Jordan is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In FL, 62 of 1,008 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 6.2% of this state's fallen. That is 2.2 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Florida Department of Corrections, 6 of 33 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 18.2% of this agency's fallen.

Florida Department of Corrections

of 33 officers

18.2% Cardiac

FL — Statewide

of 1,008 officers

6.2% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac